How are we intending to prepare for Christmas?

HOW ARE WE INTENDING TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS?

Is. 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14 & Mt. 24:37-44

The world insists on telling us how many shopping days there are to Christmas.  It prepares well for Christmas.  How well are we preparing?

We can prepare for Advent by trying to relive how Mary and Joseph spent their time before the birth of their Son.  Mary was well over eight months pregnant and she knew, through scriptures, that the Saviour was to be born in Bethlehem.  Yet here she was in Nazareth!  She waited patiently for the time when God would reveal to Joseph and herself when they were to travel to Bethlehem.  Then the news came to them indirectly through the census of the world ordered by Augustus Caesar:  everyone was to record their name in their place of origin.  Since they were of the line of King David they would now have to travel to Bethlehem because that was the city of David.

Before this news arrived she would be getting together all the clothes and necessary things a newborn baby would need.  She would also have to do her everyday chores, like shopping for food for Joseph and herself, cooking the meals, the weekly wash, keeping their home tidy and clean.  There would be times when she and Joseph prayed together and spoke about the birth of her child, and when God would reveal to them when they should make their way to Bethlehem.

Joseph would be working hard to get the extra money he would need for their trip to Bethlehem and their stay in the area for the 40 days after the birth of Mary’s child so they could present Him in the Temple.  There would have to be purchases of wood to make doors, tables and chairs.  His tools would need sharpening every now and then.  He may even have gone from door to door looking for much needed extra work.

Throughout all these various activities they looked forward eagerly to the time of the birth of Jesus.  As with every new mother Mary longed to be able to hold Him in her arms and to see to His every need.  We can follow their example, going about our work whatever it may be as best we can, as we look forward to the birth of Jesus in our lives at Christmas.  They would be preparing their hearts to receive Him - and so must we.

One of the best forms of preparation is the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  How many Catholics sadly neglect this Sacrament!  Am I right in saying that a good many people have given up on this Sacrament?  They will receive Our Lord in Communion whenever they come to Mass on Sundays, but they will tell you they do not need to go to Confession.  They say their act of contrition at the start of Mass is sufficient preparation for their reception of Jesus in Holy Communion.

If you rarely go to Confession and you receive Jesus in Holy Communion, here is something to think about.  Suppose a special guest is coming to your home for a visit.  What do you do?  Even though your home is very presentable you will still hoover the carpets, dust the furniture and fluff up the cushions.  That is the equivalent of going to Confession to receive Jesus in Holy Communion.

This must be said that those who neglect Mass for no reason on some Sundays but then receive Our Lord in Holy Communion whenever they come to Mass are committing a sacrilege.  To miss Mass deliberately on Sundays and Holydays of Obligations is a serious offence.  What did Saint Paul write about receiving Our Lord in mortal sin?  “He who eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks damnation to himself.”

And this is what Saint Pope John Paul has to say, “If we do not go to Confession once a month you are not taking your spiritual life seriously.”  I can think of three reasons why he said that.  First, in this sacrament, as in all the sacraments, we meet Jesus - so that is a good reason for going.  Second, we never know what is round the corner and we need to build up a strong friendship with Jesus, which we do in Confession, to provide us with loads of graces for the future.  Then whatever crisis we may have to face we will never turn our backs on Christ.  Third, it is our ticket to Heaven.  When someone dies, who goes to Confession every month, I can imagine God saying, 'Come on, Heaven is for you.  Every month you wanted to put yourself right with Me and your neighbour.'

Lord Jesus in preparing for Your coming at Christmas we can do no better than prepare our hearts like Mary and Joseph did, and make sure we include time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in our busy schedules.

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