Advent

Once again we begin the formal liturgical prep for Christmas. Civil [possibly uncivil] society has been ready to help us for the past couple of weeks. Decorations and music fill our stores. Internet offers of great bargains, extra points, added bonuses, etc. etc. etc. Schedules are already filling up with parties for the company, school, clubs, backyard neighbors and assorted groupings of the human species.

One is not able to extricate oneself totally from the world. We are a part of the day to day and the only way to escape totally is to die. I suspect, however, even after death we will be involved with the world, at least in prayer.

There are some practical items we can implement to help us have a more prayerful and enriched celebration of Christmas. The list is not in any particular order.

• Make sure you set aside some time each day to think about the Gospel for the day. You can find the daily readings at www.usccb.org and then click on Readings. It takes only a minute to read the Gospel and you have some food for thought.
• Sit down with your family and decide what you are  going to do to help the poor this Christmas season. It could be paying for some one's rent or buying a few extra presents to give away. Lots of opportunities.
• Consider spending a bit less this year than last in order to help the poor.
• Set up an Advent wreath and candles at your table and use it regularly.
• Do a good deed for an elderly neighbor [helping set up and take down of decorations].
• Play religious Christmas music.I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus does not count.
• Keep one present [hopefully the best] wrapped until the feast of the Epiphany in memory of the first Christmas gift giving. I have heard every year that our kids get too much and they don't really appreciate it. If the kids have too much remember who gave it to them.
• Go to daily Mass a couple of times a week. 

It is not easy to stand against the flow. If we don't swim upstream [against the flow] we'll never find the source.

Have a great Advent.
Pax