We know that Advent is a time of great preparations. When I think of that, my mind is brought to the situation in the lives of Mary and Joseph as well as all soon-to-be mothers ( and fathers ). Surely for Mary and Joseph this was a difficult time in their relationship ... for Mary to be pregnant before the three-part Jewish marriage rite. What was being said by wagging tongues as the young couple walked the dusty roadways of their town? The pressure of the law must have been so strong that Joseph was considering divorcing Mary before the conclusion of the betrothal period that occurred before the bride-to-be moved into her husband's home. It required an angelic dream to encourage Joseph to take Mary into his home sooner than expected.
Likewise in these pre-Christmas days of preparation, think about young couples, or older couples, who are preparing for their first child. Many people are involved in helping the couple select a name for the soon-to-arrive gift. Special rooms in the home are made ready. Moms and Mothers-in-Law are afuss helping the new Mom get ready for the great day ... the birth of the new grandchild.
So what is this for us today? It is a time for us to be afuss, as it were, seriously considering what we might be ready to give birth to in our hearts, in our own spiritual lives. These days of preparation, when so many Catholics to remember the Sacrament of Reconciliation, there are concerns about particular practices, sins, weaknesses, failures, that seem to weigh more heavily upon individuals. "Father, it seems that it is always that same sins that I bring to the Sacrament. What can I do to avoid these repeat performances?"
There is one reply to consider: Did you truly spend some time considering how you may have sinned, been week, or failed? For sure most of us are creatures of habit ... and our human weaknesses usually don't change. But often, it seems to this confessor, individuals feel the need for confession but do not take the time to get ready for the moment. Imagine the feelings of a soon to be mother who husband spends little time in helping her get everything in order for the baby's birth. While we do often fall off the same wagon, as it were, most of the time, we can grow spiritually if we seriously take time before a confession to consider our actions related to the 10 Commandments and the laws of our Church.
We need to realize that overcoming faults or sins is very much a strategic operation. We have to seriously look at ourselves and how we allow ourselves to "fall into the same sin patterns. We have to be afuss about our overcoming the faults. We have to realize that we have the opportunity to give birth to a newness within our own hearts, our own souls. We have to look to what is necessary in our own spiritual homes, our souls, to regain the peace that we seek, the peace we may have lost by sin or too much routine! We may not be able to as public about our getting ready for the new birth in our souls. Nonetheless, in our hearts we may feel a new repainting, new pictures on the walls, etc.
Today it would not hurt to find a time between shopping and football games, to seriously ask ourselves if there really is a way that we can change our lives, bring new life into our hearts and souls. And when you attend Mass the next time, at the sacred moment of Consecration, speak to God with your resolution(s). Pledge to him your intention to live out the new birth you wish in your heart. Don't wait until December 31st to whip together a resolution that perhaps quite ephemeral.
TOMORROW, MONDAY, THERE WILL NOT BE A BLOG. I will be involved in moving to St. Matthias Parish, Lanham, MD. The blog will resume on Tuesday. Use Monday to get your heart ready for the new birth you wish to bring to it on Christmas Day.
