Preparing
for Advent
As
Advent approaches, we should begin to reflect on Staying Awake, on Preparing,
and getting ready! Prepare for what, get
ready for what, we should PREPARE for the Kingdom of God.
Athletes
prepare, musicians prepare, artists prepare, people in business prepare, people
prepare for retirement, children and their parents prepare for college, etc,
etc. We live in a world preparing, BUT
are we PREPARING for the most IMPORTANT thing?
God’s Heavenly Kingdom! I think
this story may help us: “Recording Advent”
Being a mom to
Brendan, 7, and Maggie, 4, was the most important thing in the world to
Karyn. The best time of the day was when
she and the kids would read and sing together.
(In 2006) Karyn was diagnosed with breast cancer; earlier this year, she
learned that the final treatment was not working. So, with the help of the nonprofit group
“LifeChronicles”, Karyn and her husband, Jeff, gathered Brendan and Maggie
together in their living room to make a video.
The video, Karyn
told her giggling children, was just a fun memento of the moment. The kids knew their mom was sick but did not
understand that she would soon be gone.
Over the next 90 minutes, they read stories, including Brendan's
favorite, Dr. Seuss. Karyn sang the children's favorite lullaby, Que Sea
Sera. Mom and Dad and the kids
reminisced about family events & vacations.
Karyn and Jeff
told the children how much they loved them and loved each other.
After the
children left, Karyn & Jeff (shared) on camera how they met and fell in
love. "I want them to be able to
see me when I'm gone, to see us all together as a family. I wanted something more than pictures, for
them to remember me. And to remember how happy we were."
"It's not
talking about death; it's celebrating our family," Karyn said. "It tears me up that they won't have a
mom, and this is a way I can leave a piece of me with them." As Karyn survived each year despite the
initial prognosis, she became more … aware of each … moment … (as a gift). Karyn died when she was 38. She is survived
by her husband and two children. And
many wonderful memories.
Karyn and her family struggled to “stay awake” and not
miss the opportunities life sent their way.
Advent reminds us that life gives us
opportunities to behold God in our midst.
It calls us "watch," to pay
attention to the signs of God's unmistakable presence in our lives.
Karyn and her family came to understand, this
lifetime of ours, which we so often take for granted, is precious and
limited. It is a gift that God gives us
so we can discover God in our world (and in each other). (Connections
December 2010)
As you get ready for Advent this year, pay attention to
God in your life, in the sounds, and the moments that God gives you. To be aware of God in our midst, we need to
pray more faithfully, more attentively.
How can we do that?
1. Spend some time
in prayer each day (3 minutes – 3 hours).
2. During your
prayer allow God’s grace to touch your hearts, your minds, and your wills.
3. Focus each day
on doing God’s will!
Our Faith reminds us to be filled with HOPE because our
God will not leave us orphaned; our God will return and take us to
Himself. St. James said, “Draw near to
God and God will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)
As Advent draws near may we be reminded: to draw NEAR to
God, to SEEK God, to HOPE in God, and INVITE God in our hearts!
May God Be Praised!
COVID 19 Pandemic Prayer
Hear my
cry! “Lord, listen to my prayer: turn
your ear to my appeal.” You are my
refuge and my hope, I turn to you during this COVID 19 Pandemic and plead for
Your intercession. In Your mercy and Your compassion “… grant eternal rest to the
dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick ….” [Psalm 143 and Collect from Mass
Time in Pandemic] Provide
strength to the first responders, compassion to the medical personnel, and
wisdom to government leaders. End this
coronavirus scourge. Send Your light to
me as I wander in the darkness of this pandemic and give me hope in Your
eternal love today and every day. Amen.
[Dcn.
George Kelly]
