"O Come O Come Emmanuel..."

I can't believe we are already past the Second Sunday of Advent!  I was a little late in getting things going around here for Advent but I finally managed to dig out both the Advent wreath and the Manger scene.

We plan on adding new pieces every Sunday in Advent, and then adding lights, garland and the Holy Family on Christmas Eve.

St. Nicholas paid us a visit on his Feast Day, Sunday.  He left the boys goodies, along with a "progress report" for William to let him know how his behavior has been.  Each year, we plan on carrying out this new tradition of St. Nicholas letting our children know how they are doing.  He will take note of good behaviors and commend them on it, as well as point out areas in need of improvement before Christmas, otherwise they may find coal under the tree instead of gifts. ;)

It was so cute seeing his reaction to finding his shoe!  I just love this age with him understanding more.

Our focus during Advent this year, as always, is to prepare.  As difficult as it is to stay away from the festivities that this time of year brings, I find it too distracting from the real purpose of this season, which is to prepare our souls for the coming of Christ.  What better way to do that than to practice the truest form of love, which is self-sacrificing.  This can be done in a number of ways, from giving up things that you like to eat, to adding in more prayer or spiritual reading time; anything to help cleanse your soul of the spirit of the world in order to receive into it the Spirit of God.  How can we receive Christ at Christmas if there is no room for Him within ourselves because we have been wasting our time with lights, holiday shopping, Christmas music, Santa and so on instead of preparing ourselves for Him?  Just as with the first Christmas when He found Himself shut out of every inn, He will once again find Himself turned away from many souls at Christmas, who, though they are celebrating His birthday, have no room for Him among the festivities and will cast Him no more than a passing thought.  

Can you imagine how anxiously the Jews awaited the Savior?  Those who had prayed and sacrificed in order to prepare themselves for the coming of the Christ were the ones who recognized Him as the Savior and were able to receive Him into their hearts.  During this Advent season, let us recall that feeling of anticipation and spirit of preparation as we, as so many others did before the first Christmas a long time ago, await the coming of the Savior. 

Today we also honor Our Lady, the Mother of God, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  We celebrate the day She was conceived without the stain of original sin in order that She, as the New Eve, might fulfill the words of God in the Garden of Eden and crush the head of Satan by bringing forth the Savior who will free Mankind from the bonds of sin.

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception!

~Lindsay