I currently serve as a FOCUS missionary (go here to learn
more about the fantastic organization I get to be a part of) on a college
campus in Indiana and for me that means Advent on campus is celebrated even
earlier than the technical start to our liturgical year. For years, college
students create friendships and a second family away from home, so it’s natural
for them to want to celebrate such a special time of year with those close to
them while at college. So, with finals
ending the middle of December, Christmas traditions begin before or right after
Thanksgiving break; the students I work with anxiously decorate their dorm
rooms, houses and/or apartments for Christmas, already counting the days until
they get to go home for Christmas, studying for those things called finals, and
searching for the perfect tacky Christmas sweater (Mom’s and Dad’s, I’m sorry
to say that some of the sweaters from your closet found themselves into the
hands of your children and are currently being worn at a tacky sweater party). And
over the past three years as a FOCUS missionary, I’ve witnessed and been apart
of these early celebrations, all the while trying to incorporate my family’s
Advent traditions and blending in those of my roommates, teammates and the
students. But in the midst of it all, I can get lost in Christmas and Advent
traditions and lose sight of what I should really be doing and what I should
really be sharing with the students I work with.
A few weeks ago, I was preparing for two of the weekly Bible
studies I lead, and I came across an article that gave me a gut check: not only
is Advent a preparation for Christ’s birth, but an intentional time of the
preparation we should be making for Christ’s Second Coming. Woah.
This year I’m celebrating my 26th Advent, and it
wasn’t until this year that I realized the deep connection between my four weeks
of Advent preparation, and my daily preparations all year round to prepare my
heart to be ready for when Jesus truly comes again. I usually have found myself
asking: Where did the year go? How is it December already? Why does Advent
always come upon me as a surprise? Perhaps I haven’t been able to realize this
many years earlier because I’ve been caught up in traditions and not taken time
to pray, open my heart and give Jesus room to move my heart to conversion. After reading that article, I shared it with both of the weekly Bible studies and it was awesome. I asked them, “How are you preparing for Advent? Will you make time for reflection and prayer? How will these four weeks of Advent be a springboard for how you want to prepare for Jesus’ Second Coming?” We then made Advent resolutions which we shared aloud with the rest of Bible study and we were inspired to add a couple more to our own list after hearing others. Here’s a few that were shared: make a morning offering to God (before checking our phone or email), pray with a daily reflection/Advent book, do a daily examination of conscience at the end of the day, look for service opportunities, and read and pray over the Christmas story.
I always knew that Advent was more than the three purple
candles and the one pink one (I was always excited when that one got lit at
Mass as a child because I knew Christmas was just around the corner); I always
knew that Jesus was the only reason why we celebrated Christmas; I always knew
that it was truly amazing how my Savior came in the humble form of a baby
because He loved me, but my response and preparation has been inadequate. If I
truly prepared well for Advent every year, I don’t think I’d be so surprised
when it came around year after year. I would hope I would use it as a time to
build upon the resolutions I made the year before and actually then lived out
throughout the year.
This Advent caused me to ask some deeper questions and find
out what it is that I get so busy doing that I don’t adequately prepare for Jesus’
birth. And, if I’m not adequately preparing for four weeks during Advent, how
well am I preparing my heart throughout the entire year for when Jesus comes
again?
I pray that this Advent I have the courage to truly open my
heart to all that Jesus wants to show me and the areas of my life He still
wants to redeem. We’ve been told that we won’t know the day or
hour that Jesus is coming, and I want to be ready when He does come. We don’t
have to wait until the Church gives us a season to remind us to intentionally
prepare. By God’s grace, we can make the decision every day to choose Him and
make resolutions to prepare our hearts for Him. May we enter more deeply and
intentionally into this season, and may all of the special traditions we hold
close to our hearts only lead us closer to the heart of the One who has given
us the most precious gift of all – His only Son.
Joanna Brady quit her swanky job in Chicago to serve as a FOCUS missionary, bringing the Truth of Christ to college campuses. In her role she as leads small group Bible studies, disciples female student leaders, and holds events to evangelize and form the student body. While a student herself, Joanna was discipled by Lisa from Gesterlingpalooza and even before that she knew my husband from TEC. We became friends when she spoke at our parish and Travis and I decided to join her support team. She is also beautiful, generous, and magnanimous and one of L's favorite people to have a tea party with.. Also, she claims to have the best apple cider recipe, which she shared on my recipe blog.PS - Joanna didn't ask me to link to her support page, I just wanted to because I so believe in the work she does on a 100% fundraised salary.
For more posts on Advent traditions and reflections check out the Advent series.
What a great reminder, Joanna! Peace, friend!!
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