Advent: A Time to Slow Down

https://www.saint-faustina.org/advent-is-approaching/

On November 30, the day before the first day of Advent, I was shocked to watch a local meteorologist shame the weekend news anchor because her Christmas Tree wasn't up. I wanted to yell, "No! Don't rush it!"

Be Prepared

This year I'm getting the message to slow down and not rush through Advent. I've heard multiple times through Catholic Radio and other Catholic sources to use the first 2 weeks for penance. Truly make it a "mini-Lent". I heard one man on a Catholic show suggest that if you put your tree up at the beginning of Advent, wait until Gaudete Sunday (the 3rd Sunday of Advent) to decorate it. What a great way to remind ourselves that to achieve our ultimate goal (to reach heaven), we first have to be stripped of our "garments" and made new in order to adorn the heavenly garb. We have to strip ourselves of our earthly possessions and our sins so we will be worthy to be properly clothed to meet our Lord and Savior. Just as in the Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14), we must have our souls prepared when we meet our Maker and adorn our "wedding robe". 

Going Against Society

During his homily for the first week of Advent, my parish priest explained it perfectly: We live in a world where immediate gratification is the norm. There is no such thing as waiting. There is no such thing as anticipation. Society wants things now, and that's when it is received. He continued telling the congregation that "Jesus dares us to wait patiently in prayer, to be attentive and alert, to make sure our hearts are paid attention to, and to believe in peace. The Church dares us to be patient and hope in God's promises to the world. " 

It's so tempting to give in to what society is telling us: Do it now, you don't have to wait for anything when you can have anything you want right now. Jesus waits for us in the Tabernacle. He is there, waiting for us to come to Him in prayer. He is waiting to have conversations with us. He is paying attention to our hearts, to what we need, and to what we are grateful for. He is there. He may not give us the immediate answer we're looking for, but I know that when I'm sitting in front of Him, looking at Him and having Him look at me (St. John Vianney), I am at peace. God hasn't given me everything I've asked for but I still find peace in being in the church and in front of the Tabernacle/Monstrance. If Jesus constantly waits for us, can't I wait for Him? Can I give him 4 weeks of praying and waiting? 

A Lack of Anticipation

Because of instant gratification, it seems that kids today always have Christmas. Even though my kids are grown, the last few years of their childhood had me scratching my head, wondering why they weren't excited about Christmas and their presents. Then I understood that it was because I "gifted" them with things throughout the year. There was no anticipation. They didn't have to wait for things they wanted because I gave it to them when they asked. (Well, not everything, but a lot of things.) If I could go back and do some things over, there would be some major changes. Here in the USA, we have some wonderful conveniences but what have we done to the next generation? And the one after that, and so on. 

That leads me back to why there is a lack of anticipation during Advent. Christmas is up in stores the day after (and in some cases, before) Halloween, jumping right over Thanksgiving. Trees are decorated in houses on Thanksgiving weekend and taken down on December 26th. Some people say they are tired of Christmas before the Christmas Season even arrives! I have noticed that more people are keeping Christmas Decorations up until at least Epiphany or even longer, and that makes me smile. I like to think that those people know what they're doing. 

Patience People

Most people understand that there are 2 comings of Christ: His birth, and the 2nd Coming. Fr. Mike Schmitz, in his First Sunday of Advent Homily, reminds us that there is a third: Jesus comes to us now. This is something we should always be preparing for. How are we going to receive Him? We should prepare to recognize how He comes to us daily. Open your eyes; pay attention to daily happenings. I think you'll be amazed at how many times you'll see Him in your life. As a Catholic, what a precious gift I'm given in that I can receive Him daily through the Eucharist at Mass. He not only comes to me daily through the Eucharist, but on the days I'm not able to attend Mass, I know He's still here with me. In that way, I am receiving immediate gratification by knowing He is always with me. The big arrival is yet to come: when I meet Jesus face to face either at the 2nd Coming or at the end of my earthly life. This is why we're called to have patience. He is coming. Don't give up hope. Continue to anticipate the celebration of His birth by praying and not rushing it. Slow down. Give your children time to anticipate Christmas and then let them revel in the Christmas Season.