What Are You Waiting For? (Advent Reflections Parts 2)

Waiting for a King

Imagine knowing you have a mission, an important mission, but no one believes you. Your parents don’t believe you. Your fiancee doesn’t believe you. You’re ridiculed in town because no one believes you. Then, as if to add insult to injury, you’re forced to go on a long journey… by donkey.

Over 2,000 years ago, Mary was given a mission: bear and raise the King of kings. She pledged herself to this mission, devoting her whole self, body and soul, to the Lord. Joseph, at the guidance of an angel in a dream, stood by her. Together, they journeyed to his hometown of Bethlehem. It couldn’t have been an easy journey. Mary was pregnant with Jesus while riding on a donkey, waiting for the journey to be over, waiting for Him to be born. She waited for Joseph to find them a place to stay. She waited for the straw to be laid out. She waited for a miracle.

It happened. Jesus was born to her. The Lord took care of them. Shepherds and wise men came to pay homage to their King. She kept all these things in her heart, waiting… One day, more would be revealed to her.

The Patience of Mary

We can wonder at the patience of Mary who waited for her Lord. She was at the mercy of the Will of God. She gave herself over to Him with full trust and patience.

As we come into this season of waiting, Advent, we can think to imitate Mary and her patience. Mary has hope in her story. Can we imitate that hope, that submission, and trust in the Lord?

With prayer and devotion, we can.

Advent Devotions

Prayer is so powerful. At its simplest, it gives us focus. At its greatest, it produces miracles. By devoting ourselves through prayer, or using a devotional, we focus on an intention, praying deeply for that which we desire. The more righteous our desires, the more likely the Lord will answer.

But where to start? There are so many devotionals out there.

Here are some Advent devotions from Catholic sources that you can start now.

Salve Maria Regina

From Salve Maria Regina, this list of Advent devotions shows long and short prayers and practices for Advent. From the blessing of the Advent wreath to the blessing of the Christmas tree, this could be the all-inclusive list for Advent devotions. There are even novenas listed to saints like St. Francis Xavier.

My Catholic Life

From My Catholic Life, there’s a list of devotions for every week of Advent and the Christmas Octave. These are readings and reflections to ponder that may open our minds and hearts to the true meaning of Christmas and what it means in our lives today.

Pray More Novenas

If you need more prompting, join Pray More Novenas now and get daily emails with the prayer and devotion you need that day. They have an Advent Retreat starting soon, so sign up to get notified when it’s live! This is by far the easiest way to get started with novenas and enhance your prayer life.

Catholic Answers

Swing over to Catholic Answers to check out this Simple Devotion for Starting Advent Right. There’s even an audio version on the same page, so there’s no reason to miss an opportunity to read (or hear) these reflections. There’s even a list of prayers and chants for Christmas.

Joyfully Domestic

Meet Mary, a California Catholic transplant to Nebraska who loves raising her kids and blogging about her simple living. She has a free Advent Bible plan you can grab here. She also has tons of ideas for things to do with the family for Advent.

Which leads us to…

Advent Activities for Families

Let’s get the kids and everyone involved! There’s plenty to do in December besides mall Santas. Here’s a list.

Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath consists of a circle (traditionally of evergreen) and four candles, three purple and one pink. (White candles can be used if needed.) Sometimes a center candle, red or white, is used in the center. Each week, one candle is lit in addition to the previous week. Their meanings are:

• Hope, The Shepherds’ Candle, purple
• Peace, The Bethlehem Candle, purple
• Joy, for Gaudette Sunday, pink
• Love, The Angels Candle, purple
• Christmas Day (center candle if using, white or red), Christ is born!

There are so many ways to make this. It can be a paper craft or an actual evergreen wreath. The choice is yours.

Advent Calendar

You can often find these in the local grocery store. It’s fun counting down the days until Christmas by popping open a paper door and eating a chocolate. But here’s a twist.

Write down a list of activities to do for each day until Christmas. Here’s a list to inspire you from A Catholic Mom’s Life. From writing a love letter to your grandparents to acting out a live nativity, you’ll have plenty to do until Christmas and the kids will learn the true meaning soon, chocolate or not.

The Giving Manger

Also called the Cradle to Christmas, this activity is about building up a bed for baby Jesus. All it takes is a small crib or manger. Every time your child does something good, probably something beyond brushing teeth when told, like helping a neighbor, he puts a piece of straw in the manger. Over Advent, the manger gets softer and softer for baby Jesus. On Christmas morning, have a small baby Jesus in the manger for your child to see.

If you’re not crafty, there are sets you can buy like this one on Amazon.

Celebrate the Saints

Read and learn about the saints. Saint Nicholas Day is December 6th and the kids can learn who he really is (without spoiling Santa for those who do that.) The Feast of Saint Lucy is on December 13th. She’s recognized with candles worn like a crown (they don’t need to be real!) The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is on December 8th. Mary is a very important saint and we celebrate her devotion to our Lord.

Dynamic Catholic has more ways to celebrate these days here.

Mary and Joseph

Instead of Elf on the Shelf, hide Mary and Joseph and let your kids find them around the house as they “journey to Bethlehem” for Christmas. On Christmas morning, place them in front of the manger and celebrate Jesus’s birthday together.

More Ideas

You can find more Advent activity ideas from Catholic Family Faith here. Whatever your traditions are, old or new, keep them Christ-centered and teach faith first and your children will appreciate the true meaning of Christmas for years to come.

The Hope of Advent

Children are giddy over Christmas. We adults are anxious about many things. Find the joy in Advent and let that hope carry you through your waiting, knowing that whatever may come in your life, Christ is your light and your guide. When you focus on the goal ahead, which is eternal life, patience is easier to come by. Keep Him in the center of your life and know He is with you always. God Bless, Happy Advent, and Merry Christmas.