The Third Sunday of Advent is always “Gaudete Sunday” – meaning rejoice. Are you rejoicing that God is coming? Or does God’s way mean the end of your way?
First, we need to be clear here. The Immaculate Conception is not about the conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb. It’s about the conception of Mary in her mother’s womb years before. While Mary was conceived in the normal, human way through her parents (Joachim and Anne), the Immaculate Conception speaks to the fact that Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin.
Nicholas was known for his generosity. As tradition goes, he was so selfless that (although he, too, was poor) he helped his likewise poor neighbor support and pay for his daughters’ weddings. Nicholas snuck up to his neighbor’s house at night and dropped a handful of gold coins through the open window so that the eldest daughter could afford to get married. He would later repeat the generous act two more times. From there, the Santa legend grew into what we now know today – stockings, chimneys, a belly like jelly and all that good stuff.
What good are all of our exterior preparations if our interior heart is not ready for Christmas? Don’t forget what this season of Advent is all about, getting ready for Christ’s coming. Not Santa’s.
The themes of preparation during Advent say to us that we have to actively seek God in order to be ready for His coming. We have to take the things that we’re hiding in the dark and bring them to the light.
The reality is that if you live out your faith there will probably be some conflict and moments of very awkward silence. Like that moment when your aunt tells you all the things “wrong” with your Church . . . or your condescending cousin drills you on Catholic Church teaching and asks why you so “mindlessly” follow it? Or when your Mom pulls you aside in the kitchen before family dinner and encourages you to avoid talking about certain topics like abortion or politics?
The question isn’t about whether or not Jesus is King, but about whether or not we recognize and accept Him as King during our lifetime.
If you’re in a good place with Jesus, you don’t have to stress over when the world is going to end. There’s a battle that’s always going on between light and dark – who’s side are you on?
Jesus is saying to you every day: “I’m going to ask you for everything . . . and then some.” That’s the way of the cross and the way of the gospel.
Are you just going through the motions of prayer, or are you entering in with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength? Love God intentionally today.
Still, there are countless people who try to say that the Bible is “unreliable” or “outdated.” Many people – some of whom are well-read and quite intellectual – do everything they can to debunk the validity of Scripture, thinking that if they can exploit seeming “inconsistencies” or supposed “errors” they can somehow do away with Christianity and even God. That’s the first mistake . . .
One of the most amazing gifts God has given us is our Catholic faith. Have you ever thought about that? Without the gift of faith, we wouldn’t have access to God.
