“Tis the Season!” – Before Halloween even arrived – the “world” inundated us with “Chestnuts Roasting on the Open Fire” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town! as we entered into stores to shop.
Every year – it gets earlier and earlier! The “blaring” of Christmas is coming – “the holidays” – not a mention of “Jesus Christ’s birthday! The “world” tries to allure us into the “glitz and glory” of a “fake Holiday!”
Black Friday deals and this sale and that sale. . .what price is cheaper. . .and gifts galore that truly aren’t needed! Consumption is at its highest at this time of the year!
In two Sunday’s from today – December 1, 2024 – the “First Sunday of Advent!” will be upon us.
“Tis the Season” will truly ring “truth” then to the souls of those who believe in the “Birth of Jesus Christ” into this world to save us from sin and bring us to the eternal glory of the The Kingdom of God!
“He,” who opens the Gates of Heaven to all of God’s children will be born once again into our hearts!
Who are God’s children? You and me – and all the many throughout the world who believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and King of the Universe!
How did He come?
He came as a little child within His Mother’s womb – He came vulnerable and dependent upon the Blessed Virgin Mary. He came – the Creator of the Universe – the vast universe – within the womb of Our Blessed Mother!
“Tis the Season” – Yes! He came to give us His Heart. He came to show us how much we are loved by not only Him – “Jesus Christ” but by “God the Father” and “The Holy Spirit!”
He could have come as an adult man – as a prophet among men – but “no” He came as a “little one” into a family of “mother and father.” He came living and breathing into a family of love – showing us the “truth, the way and the life.”
In these first readings of the First Sunday of Advent – “Jesus warns of terrifying signs to come, that we may not be among the people who “will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world.”
He tells us the following:
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
One of the traps in my own life – is a live “7 ft. Christmas Tree” that gets hauled home every year from Hicks Nursery! It’s a “personal trap” that I am leaving behind this year to be free!
Why? It’s an intense – long and drawn out process. It’s chosen by its fragrance – by its shape – twirled around a million times to be sure it’s the right one and then loaded into the trunk of the car. Then the step by step process of getting the tree into the stand – straight and erect. Following are the steps of placing the lights tucked into the boughs and the the carting down of the ornaments from the third floor! The endless decorating and the horror of seeing half the tree go dark after you have all the ornaments on it from top to bottom!!!! Of even the Angel at the top go dark! Oh no….not this year will it be “tis the season!”
I’m certainly not wanting to sound bah humbug – but a lot of effort and energies are placed into just this one aspect of the Christmas season – but not the Advent Season.
And we’re not talking about baking, cooking, Christmas cards – gift buying – wrapping etc! Yikes as I say! All the endless chores that seem “festive” but drain our energies to the lowest possible realm to make it that “perfect Christmas!”
Not this year when time seems to be racing faster than we can keep up!
What if? What if we printed an image of the “Holy Family” and placed it somewhere of prominence within our homes? Maybe in every room! What if – it truly was “tis the season” to prepare for “His Holy Birth” and to contemplate the sheer joy and wonder of the “Father’s Gift from Heaven” to a world in dire need?
Is it possible to change things up in some of our long repeated traditions creating more time for “His Birth?”
Could we devote more time to contemplating what was happening within Mary’s Womb as Jesus – “Her Creator” was forming within Her own body?
Can you imagine? Can you imagine spending time with the Blessed Mother and journeying with Her towards the Birth of Her Son?
Yes. . . Mary gave Her body freely at the Annunciation with Her Fiat giving “Her body” to bring forth the King of the Universe – who would give “His Body” on the Cross to save us!. . .what if?
Yes – “Tis the Season !” to do exactly that!
We have two weeks from today – before the First Sunday of Advent begins! Let us endeavor to make this Advent the most special one we have ever experienced in our lifetimes.
Look upon it as if it could be possibly your last! Mother Mary Francis of Our Lady, P.C.C. shares a story in the “Magnificat”– “of where one of the elderly sisters died at the age of 95, very bright, very clear. As she was being taken by ambulance to the hospital she said three different times,
“Oh, Jesus, I’m so eager to see you!”
Mother Mary Francis comments that “this is someone who had really been walking on the path and knew what was at the end!”
That is truly “entering in!” Knowing the end of our journey! Are we eager to see Him? Are we ready to greet Him? Who better to enter into this Season of Advent – but with our Blessed Mother! We need Her help to await His birth into our hearts this Christmas of 2024!
How does one prepare? Well, He came to give us “His Heart!”
Let us surrender our hearts to “Him” this Advent like never before!
Let us give “Him” our time – our prayer – our hearts – our love – our attention – our everything!
Let us “Love Him Lavishly” like no other time in our lives.
Let it not be “tis the season” for us this Advent 2024!
Let us not fall victim to the endless scrolling in Amazon or online shopping for gifts that truly are not needed.
As a little invitation to all who might relish this idea – a few of us are already sharing “little Christmas gifts” from the heart with each other.
Why? So that when the First Sunday of Advent arrives – we are free to enter into prayerfully through the gates of a “New Advent.”
An “opening of a new door”– for the Holy Spirit to come and enter in – birthing the Child Jesus into our hearts on Christmas Day.
Then – and only then will we be able to be changed and birthed anew – bringing the Child Jesus to everyone we meet in the daily discourse of our day!
We will greet them with the Love of Him who came to earth to redeem us and bring us to the Heavenly Kingdom! It is truly “Love” that will change the world bringing about the much needed peace that we all pray for.
Let us be “donkeys” next to Her during this time of preparation. Together – with the Infant Jesus within Her womb – the donkey carried the Blessed Virgin Mary and Her child to Bethlehem as St. Joseph led them forward and onward. When they arrived in Bethlehem and to the cave – the donkey did not leave Her side but stayed close giving his warmth to the “Mother and Infant” within.
Let us give the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus the “warmth of our love” –
the warmth of our prayers –
the warmth of our attentiveness and faithfulness. . .which is truly the true Spirit of Advent – anticipating Christmas Day in all it’s Glory!
Yes – then it will truly be “Tis the Season” to worship and adore the “Newborn King.”
We have much to be busy about “this season of Advent” and it is not what the world dictates but the Holy Spirit.
Let us listen to see! And let us “breathe in the breath of God.”
Alma Redemptoris Mater
Loving Mother of the Redeemer
Gate of Heaven, Star of the Sea
Assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again,
To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,
Yet remained a virgin after as before.
You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting
have pity on us, poor sinners,
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
©2024 Anita Guariglia
Featured Image and Other Photo Credits
Instagram and Pinterest
Quote of Sr. Mary Francis taken from “The Magnificat” December issue, 2024
Alma Redemptoris Mater – “The Magnificat” December issue – 2024
Scripture for First Sunday in Advent from “The Magnificat” December issue – 2024
8 Responses
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!! Anita, your words have touched my heart. I am going to listen to my heart as it joins with the Jesus, Mary and Joseph during this most sacred time of the year. Thank you for these beautiful words of love, encouragement and peace. “Jesus, I Trust in You.”
Anita,
Beautiful!!!
This will be the most peaceful,joyful Christmas.❤️🙏🌹
Love is reigning in the world and Jesus is being born in all our hearts anew.
Our Blessed Mother and the Holy Spirit are with us always.
Let us draw all of our strength from the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Sending love and prayers,
Alicia Stella
Amen! Alleluia Alicia! Yes, Yes, and Yes. . .Glory to God in the Highest!
God Bless You and Your Family, Anita
Anita, I’m in awe of this beautiful blog. So much to ponder.
As the season approaches with all the hustle & bustle of every day life, thank you for reminding us the true spirit of the Christmas joy is always about the birth of our Savior. I have adopted a family who is less fortunate with 3 little ones. I will provide their Christmas joy, & share my blessings with them.
This blog will be an inspiration to my new found family.
God Bless You Dear Nicole who is “listening” to see what this Advent will be blossoming into! Anita
Anita just last week I began to ponder the idea of just setting up my nativity scene this year and foregoing the Christmas tree – to keep the focus on The Holy Family – to truly prepare my heart for the coming of the Lord! Thank you for sharing these beautiful words and heavenly thoughts with us! Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!!
AMEN ALLELUIA – LET US PREPARE AND FOCUS AS YOU SAY ON THE HOLY FAMILY
AND BE THAT LITTLE DONKEY TO BE AT HER SIDE. GOD BLESS YOUR EFFORTS, ANITA
Yes! Dear Anita, you said so beautifully and clearly what we all need to think about as we prepare to open our hearts and homes to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, this Christmas. God is Love and what He wants us to do is live and share His love in all we think, say and do. Thank you for lighting the way for us.