Advent - Eucharist

We’re in the home stretch, but it’s not Christmas yet! First, we heard an amazing (my favorite) story this weekend about Mary (pregnant with Jesus) visiting her cousin Elizabeth (pregnant with John). John actually leaps in his mother’s womb at the mere presence of an unborn Jesus! God came into the world in such an inconspicuous manner—in the womb of Mary as a baby. This is obviously one of many reasons why the Church is against abortion, but it is also a testament to the source and summit of our faith—the Eucharist.

Every Sunday at every Mass, Jesus again enters this world in an inconspicuous way. He becomes physically present (Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity) in what was once a piece of bread. Like an infant Jesus, it’s easy to confuse this Sacrament for something else. Yet, like John, we should recognize His presence and leap with joy!

Advent - Joy

Sunday was the third of four in our current Advent season. Gaudete Sunday. Joy. We take a break from waiting and anticipating to rejoice! There are a few reasons this happens, and it’s not just so our priests can wear rose-colored vestments (don’t call them pink… whatever you do).

1.     We are celebrating that Christmas is coming! It’s not “Christmas MIGHT come.” Christmas IS coming!

2.     We can rejoice because Christmas has already come! The first Christmas was when Jesus entered the world, which has already happened.

3.     As Catholics, the Mass is ALWAYS a time to rejoice. It doesn’t matter what liturgical season it is, Christ has come and conquered death and given us His body to consume.

Catholics should always be filled with joy because we know Jesus. We know that He came down to save us. We know that He died to make that happen. We know joy because we know salvation.

Advent - Reconcile

The Second Sunday of Advent is now behind us, and as of this writing, Christmas is 18 days away. So let’s take an inventory of Advent so far? Has the priority been shopping, party-planning, flight-booking, etc? Or has significant time been spent to “prepare the way of the Lord, [and] make straight His paths”? Whether you answered “yes” to the first or second question, there is still time to prepare. One of the best ways is to head to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; however, it wasn’t until Jesus’ death on the Cross that Baptism had that power. Baptism can only occur once in a lifetime though, and I’m pretty sure you’ve sinned since then. Luckily, the sins committed since then can be absolved in Reconciliation. Enter the Christmas season purified and ready to receive the Christ the Newborn King, run to the Sacrament of Reconciliation!