Blessings
of the Season!
In Advent,
we both remember Jesus’ birth and anticipate this year’s celebration of
Christmas. We think about what we’ll do this Christmas and who we’ll be with.
We also don’t merely recall how Jesus came among us more than 2,000 years ago.
We think of how He is with us now, throughout our day and in new ways every
day. He not only was present among us; He is and will be!
Like most
people, 2020 was a hard year for me. It started with the death of a beloved
uncle; soon afterward, my grandmother had health issues. In February we started
hearing about COVID on the news, and the rest is history. Our convent went into
quarantine and then lockdown. I wasn’t able to attend family celebrations for
Easter or this Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Through it
all, I felt God near me. His loving-kindness came to me through the support and
care of my community, friends, and family. These relationships helped sustain
me. The extra quiet time spent alone was an opportunity to draw closer to God
in prayer and reflection. At daily Mass, my community lifted up the needs of
the world in prayer, and God was in the unity I experienced. Too, the evening
news reported the generosity and concern of so many for their neighbors and
total strangers. This invitation to bring the love of God to others reminded me
that God’s presence is also a present we can give.
As we
celebrate how God came among us in His son, may we also recognize how He is
with us now. Our preparation for Christmas can include opening our hearts and
minds to how He is present. We can find ways to bring Him to others, too.
I pray that
your Advent preparation and Christmas celebration are truly Spirit-filled: full
of joy, insight, and peace!
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