On Sunday, we began the liturgical season of Advent. Advent is a time of waiting and hoping, a time to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Like all significant events that include a time of waiting and preparation, Advent is no different. The coming of our Lord is a big event. Therefore, the invitation is to prepare
ourselves. The readings for the first Sunday of Advent invite us to be vigilant and ready to receive the Lord who is coming.
We are invited to keep busy while we wait this Advent; how might we stay busy? How might we prepare ourselves? We are asked to prepare our hearts, works and everything around us so that we are not found sleeping.
Preparing our hearts means putting practices into our lives to help us develop a joyful hope for what is to come. Preparing our hearts could mean an awareness of and pause from our culture of instant gratification - already around us in malls, Christmas decorations are displayed, they have been since the end of October. This may make it difficult for us to enter into Advent. We are invited to pause and pay attention to the signs that show the Lord is present in our lives.
Take time to pause and consider how God is attending to each one.
At the end of the year, there are lots of celebrations, e.g., children having done well in school, achievements and challenges overcome in the past year, and perhaps new beginnings. So much compels us to rejoice and celebrate in the moment. However, the season of Advent invites us to stay alert so we can recognise the Lord breaking through
into our lives.
Reflections by Morongoa Selepe
