Advent: By: C.C.

"God is constantly revealing himself to us. He whispers to us, he doesn't shout--Advent invites us to listen and discover His grace and mercy" (Cardinal Dolan)

  As each of us are preparing for Christmas during this Advent season it is often easy to get caught up in the chaos and noise of our consumerist culture. As we journey through our Advent season it is important to take the time and put everything into proper perspective. As the commercial/consumerist world pulls at us with various propaganda we are called to remember the true focus of Christmas. We are called to keep Christ as the centre of the season.
  Cardinal Dolan reminds us of the quiet voice our Lord uses to speak to us. During this Advent season we are shouted at with an overwhelming amount of Christmas marketing and it is easy for us to lose sight of the real reason for the season. As we journey through Advent we are called to interior preparation for Christ. We must make an effort to set aside time for prayer and spiritual growth. It is important that we seek silence, solitude, and uninterrupted time with our Lord despite the many distractions, commitments, and other external things that may consume us. 
  The "Christmas season" seems to highlight the way in which we as Christians are in the world but not of the world. This is a time that we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and one in which the world prepares for "X-mas". Let us continue to walk with our Lord and keep Him as the focus amidst our preparations. (C.C.)