Today I will talk about the pre-Christmas season.
Advent is a time of joyful expectation. For Advent means “coming,” and we are waiting for the Lord’s coming.
It would be wrong to think now that waiting is something passive, that we can lie down and wait with folded arms for salvation, for the light from above.
Advent invites us to take time for ourselves, to calm down, even though everything around us is spinning and we have the feeling that everything is spinning even faster than many years ago. In this peace, I can ask myself how satisfied I am with myself, what is my relationship with others and also with God. Am I still happy enough, do I even know how to rejoice, even over small things and gifts that I receive or give? Has my joy perhaps passed because I no longer see the meaning in myself and in the world, and perhaps also in the Church?
Let us rejoice in life, let us rejoice because we are truly saved! Let's make the most of this time, let's make the most of our lives!
During Advent, "small" lights are already shining, as symbols of hope in the darkness. The candles on the Advent wreath, Advent songs, etc. are just tiny external signs.
With the four Sundays of Advent, we are getting closer and closer to the celebration of Christmas. They are like doors that open in order. These four weeks before Christmas are an opportunity to prepare for the Lord's coming with hope and repentance, which is why the liturgical color is purple...
From history: Following the pattern of the Lenten preparation for Easter, Advent was introduced from the 6th century onwards as a preparation for Christmas. The Advent fast began at different times, in some places already after St. Martin's Day. Now Advent is 4 Sundays long, but sometimes there are only three weeks.
Four candles
The story tells of the four Advent candles:
The first candle was named PEACE. She said: "With all the horrors, ingratitude and quarrels, there is no longer any point in me burning. No one takes me into account.” And it went out.
The second candle, whose name was LOVE, nodded to the first and added: “Everyone makes fun of me and abuses me. My light is also ineffective.” And it went out.
The third candle, whose name was FAITH, added: “It is no different with me. I speak of brotherhood, but wars are started in my name. People no longer care about God.” And it also went out.
The fourth candle, however, lit up brighter and spoke: “Not so! Not so! As long as I shine, the time of darkness has not yet come! Lean towards me, accept my light and give it to people.” This candle was called HOPE.
Four Candles (PPS)
SOMEONE IS COMING!
Someone is coming – but you overlook him!
Someone is coming towards you – but you have closed yourself off from him!
Someone knocks at your door – you cover your ears!
Someone lives with you – you would rather throw them out!
Someone wants to talk to you – you interrupt them!
Someone is waiting for you – you turn your back on them!
Someone has an infinite amount of time for you – you are always busy!
Someone is coming – you only see yourself!
As long as this Someone is coming, you still have time to become different.
In Advent, let us make a special effort to calm our hearts and deepen our longing for God. Is our heart ready? Is it more ready for the coming of Jesus every day of Advent?
***
COME, YES, COME
Come, yes, come, my God. Come with your fire and set me ablaze, come with your breath and revive me, come with your power and set me straight, come with your love and fill me with enthusiasm.
Come, God of the world, come in the many prophets who invite and do not allow peace. Come, you who heal wounds and revive everything. Come in all people who love and seek peace.
Come, my God, and make this world your home.
***
Lord God, you have decided that we will wait for you throughout the long time of Advent. But I hate waiting terribly. I do not like to stand in a long line and wait. I do not like to wait for the train, for some other day, because I do not have time, I am always in a hurry... Lord, today everything is arranged in such a way that we do not have to wait: we have checks, shopping on the computer, self-service stores and gas stations, photographs developed in an hour, short news on the radio...
But you, Lord, have decided that you will let us wait throughout the whole time of Advent. You have turned waiting into an opportunity for conversion; to face what is hidden within me. You have turned waiting into a treasure that is not consumed by use. Lord, help me to accept waiting, for only waiting can teach me what is essential for me.
May I realize that in waiting everything is already given. As I wait for you, Lord, may waiting turn into prayer, and prayer into love. Love – that is you, Lord! You are always here in love. Now and forever.
The world is so dark. We are so afraid. We cry out for light. We would like to find our way out of darkness into light. We have heard of the light that never goes out.
This is the light that Jesus lit for us with his birth and suffering. Jesus even died so that the light in the world would never go out.
The lights that we light on the Advent wreath represent the light of Jesus. It shone into our darkness and drove away fear. We will intercept some of this light and offer it to others. We want to shine for the whole world. Jesus, help us in this!
***
Lord, endowed with freedom, I choose for myself a new life. It is not given to any other being to direct my gazed into the future and would deserve it by responding to the call of your invitation! Enriched with the gift of prophecy, I stretch out my hands, Lord, towards the new times, because I know that You are waiting for me on the way!
Therefore, I want to prepare the way, Lord, the way in my heart. A way without hills and obstacles, a safe way by which You will be able to come to me. I prepare the way, Lord, with my life. A way from which I want to remove obstacles – sins and shortcomings. I want to prepare the way so that you and I can meet with our brothers and sisters on it.
Christians prepare the way, many ways, Lord. With them, we would like to weave the spaces that separate us from each other. And when we do this, we ourselves will become the way by which Your love will come unhindered into the world
***
During Advent, we also think of others. For this purpose, the Children for Children Advent campaign is being held. All information is on the website of the Mission Center of Slovenia: http://www.missio.si/
Of course, I didn't write the post myself, as I have a little help.
That's all for today, see you again tomorrow!
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