“If I am tired of Christmas already, I am truly not living Advent
I recall seeing a bumper sticker some time ago that I identified with. It read, “I’m not originally from Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.” My wife Mary and I were married in 1983, she was already from here and I quickly established roots here in the Valley. After our wedding, it was decided that rather than going back to Washington State where I had my job waiting for me, we would stay and make a living here; the rest of course is history, 36 years later I still call Texas our home.
I was not raised in the Christmas traditions of this area, considering that before I was married all past my Christmas’ were spent in a little town called Garza Gonzalez south of the border in the state of Nuevo Leon Mexico. There, my family would spend every winter before returning as migrants to Washington upon the arrival of spring. My memories of Christmas’ are quite simple. Considering that we did not have any shopping places in our little town my memories are more about family gatherings, Posadas, and the placing of baby Jesus in the manger.
These traditions carried over and are still part of our traditions at our home today; they are also quite relevant here at OLS Church and are shared by our friend’s homes as well. There is; however, something that I feel does not belong to our tradition and that is the materialistic aspect that keeps adding itself to the Christmas season; it seems to become greater every year.
For as soon as December nears traffic becomes congested, there is the obvious marketing of sales ads; the rush to get from here to there, the long lines at all the stores and the spending for gifts when I know that we may not afford to do so.
This year it’s even more prevalent because the Christmas season is shorter, only 24 days of shopping. Retailers know this that is why we are being bombarded by ads that lure us to the stores because the merchants want to get our business before the season ends; Year after year the same hustle and bustle which soon leaves me with a feeling of disappointment.
During a time of reflective prayer while contemplating on all this commotion, I received a revelation that makes a lot of sense, it told me that, “If by the second week of the Season, I am tired of Christmas, I am not living Advent the way that I should.” if I am focused on all the aforementioned, I will leave Christ behind and everything else will become more important than my Lord. If I live Christmas and not Christ - Mas, the reason for the season, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ will be lost.
On Christmas day, it is the BIRTH of Christ that we as Christians celebrate, not His birthday. This may be Christmas 2019 but it is not Jesus’ 2019th birthday. Our Catholic faith and Church teachings guide us to the fact that when we celebrate Christmas it is not so much relevant to a day in the calendar but the real birth of Christ. Our faith leads us to turn back time to the same manger where Jesus lays; the same Mary and Joseph who just received the Son of God; the same shepherds adoring the new born King and the same angels singing Glory to God in the highest.
In today’s Gospel John preaches in the wilderness of Judea and delivers this message, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” John the Baptist was the man, the voice that the prophet Isiah referred to when he said, “a voice cries in the wilderness prepare a way for the Lord make his paths straight.” John announces the coming of the Lord.
Let’s reflect; No prominent figure makes an official visit without a proper announcement. If the Pope is coming to visit we will immediately begin preparations in effort that he receives the proper reception. Presidents announce ahead of time when they will make a public appearance so that proper arrangements can be made; Jesus, is definitely no less. Before He began his ministry, the Holy Spirit sent John to make the preparations. He was sent to inform the Israelites that the eagerly awaited Messiah was soon to arrive and he was sent to instruct them on how to get ready.
John was such a powerful figure; he was Israel’s only prophet in more than two centuries and was described by Jesus himself as the greatest of all prophets; so great that many Jews thought that he was the Messiah. But John clearly assured them that the Messiah would be much greater than him, that the Messiah would be a true King.
Isaiah tells his people “prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight”, what does Isiah mean by this? Well, in ancient times, when royalty travelled, roads were either built or repaired for the ease and comfort of their travel. In the same notion, Isiah is telling us that we must also prepare a way for the Lord and make his paths straight so Christ may enter into our lives. This will be accomplished when we turn away from our selfish ways and show God that our repentance is real.
John refers to the Messiah as a King, the same King; Jesus, who comes to us his people in the true presence of the Eucharist during Holy Mass. Just as John and Isiah did with the Israelites, they teach us how to prepare for the Lord’s coming. Only then, after repenting and reforming will we be able to really experience the joys of His coming Kingdom and be prepared to receive him during Holy Communion where He will give us graces that will help us meet all the challenges we face and those still to come.
May our Lord Jesus Christ abundantly bless us and in his blessing, may He also include the graces that will lead us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas so that we may truly experience and live the Advent season.
I was not raised in the Christmas traditions of this area, considering that before I was married all past my Christmas’ were spent in a little town called Garza Gonzalez south of the border in the state of Nuevo Leon Mexico. There, my family would spend every winter before returning as migrants to Washington upon the arrival of spring. My memories of Christmas’ are quite simple. Considering that we did not have any shopping places in our little town my memories are more about family gatherings, Posadas, and the placing of baby Jesus in the manger.
These traditions carried over and are still part of our traditions at our home today; they are also quite relevant here at OLS Church and are shared by our friend’s homes as well. There is; however, something that I feel does not belong to our tradition and that is the materialistic aspect that keeps adding itself to the Christmas season; it seems to become greater every year.
For as soon as December nears traffic becomes congested, there is the obvious marketing of sales ads; the rush to get from here to there, the long lines at all the stores and the spending for gifts when I know that we may not afford to do so.
This year it’s even more prevalent because the Christmas season is shorter, only 24 days of shopping. Retailers know this that is why we are being bombarded by ads that lure us to the stores because the merchants want to get our business before the season ends; Year after year the same hustle and bustle which soon leaves me with a feeling of disappointment.
During a time of reflective prayer while contemplating on all this commotion, I received a revelation that makes a lot of sense, it told me that, “If by the second week of the Season, I am tired of Christmas, I am not living Advent the way that I should.” if I am focused on all the aforementioned, I will leave Christ behind and everything else will become more important than my Lord. If I live Christmas and not Christ - Mas, the reason for the season, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ will be lost.
On Christmas day, it is the BIRTH of Christ that we as Christians celebrate, not His birthday. This may be Christmas 2019 but it is not Jesus’ 2019th birthday. Our Catholic faith and Church teachings guide us to the fact that when we celebrate Christmas it is not so much relevant to a day in the calendar but the real birth of Christ. Our faith leads us to turn back time to the same manger where Jesus lays; the same Mary and Joseph who just received the Son of God; the same shepherds adoring the new born King and the same angels singing Glory to God in the highest.
In today’s Gospel John preaches in the wilderness of Judea and delivers this message, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” John the Baptist was the man, the voice that the prophet Isiah referred to when he said, “a voice cries in the wilderness prepare a way for the Lord make his paths straight.” John announces the coming of the Lord.
Let’s reflect; No prominent figure makes an official visit without a proper announcement. If the Pope is coming to visit we will immediately begin preparations in effort that he receives the proper reception. Presidents announce ahead of time when they will make a public appearance so that proper arrangements can be made; Jesus, is definitely no less. Before He began his ministry, the Holy Spirit sent John to make the preparations. He was sent to inform the Israelites that the eagerly awaited Messiah was soon to arrive and he was sent to instruct them on how to get ready.
John was such a powerful figure; he was Israel’s only prophet in more than two centuries and was described by Jesus himself as the greatest of all prophets; so great that many Jews thought that he was the Messiah. But John clearly assured them that the Messiah would be much greater than him, that the Messiah would be a true King.
Isaiah tells his people “prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight”, what does Isiah mean by this? Well, in ancient times, when royalty travelled, roads were either built or repaired for the ease and comfort of their travel. In the same notion, Isiah is telling us that we must also prepare a way for the Lord and make his paths straight so Christ may enter into our lives. This will be accomplished when we turn away from our selfish ways and show God that our repentance is real.
John refers to the Messiah as a King, the same King; Jesus, who comes to us his people in the true presence of the Eucharist during Holy Mass. Just as John and Isiah did with the Israelites, they teach us how to prepare for the Lord’s coming. Only then, after repenting and reforming will we be able to really experience the joys of His coming Kingdom and be prepared to receive him during Holy Communion where He will give us graces that will help us meet all the challenges we face and those still to come.
May our Lord Jesus Christ abundantly bless us and in his blessing, may He also include the graces that will lead us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas so that we may truly experience and live the Advent season.
