“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew’s Gospel verse reminds us this short Advent season that we are not required to act on all the commercial hype we are bombarded with across all forms of media between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Listening to the morning news the weekend after Thanksgiving, I was informed that I needed to purchase my Christmas Tree and decorate it thrice in a 2-hour newscast. I didn’t realize there is now an expected date to have your tree up and decorated, which qualifies as news!

As Catholics, we have our Advent Wreaths with candles and, for many, daily Advent reflection booklets that help us center on the true preparation for the coming of the Christ Child. Lighting the Advent candles each evening at my evening dinner is a tradition from my childhood that has continued even when I dine alone. The flickering of the Advent candle(s) brings a sense of calm and peace to the season and helps us remember the reason for the season. The candlelight allows us time to reflect on how we lived out our faith during our busy day.

Surrendering more to the Lord and allowing ourselves to rely on His strength and energy will fill us with divine vitality and ease our burdens. As in the first reading today from Isaiah 40:31, They that hope in the Lord, will renew their strength, soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

Advent is a time of preparation, not of home décor, Christmas cookies, and parties, but of our own spiritual renewal as we begin the new liturgical year and Jubilee Holy Year of Pilgrims of Hope.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for all the blessings you provide each day. Guide me today to share these gifts with others in my actions and words. Help me slow down and be a blessing in another person’s life today. Amen.