Nobody's a natural. - You work hard to get “good” and then work to get “better.”

“If you believe you can accomplish everything by "cramming" at the eleventh hour, by all means, don't lift a finger now. But you may think twice about beginning to build your ark once it has already started raining”

Gospel Text: (MT 24:37-44)

Jesus said to his disciples:

“As it was in the days of Noah,

so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

In those days before the flood,

they were eating and drinking,

marrying and giving in marriage,

up to the day that Noah entered the ark.

They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.

So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.

Two men will be out in the field;

one will be taken, and one will be left.

Two women will be grinding at the mill;

one will be taken, and one will be left.

Therefore, stay awake!

For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.

Be sure of this: if the master of the house

had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,

he would have stayed awake

and not let his house be broken into.

So too, you also must be prepared,

for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

To receive the grace God is offering us this Advent let us reflect on whether we put God first in our life always. If God is not first, we are missing out.

Many people do not like Christmas because their wishes for happiness are never fulfilled and many are happy when Christmas has passed. It is a time of year when some people are lonely or depressed and they try to fill up that loneliness with things. They do not give the impression of having received the grace that God is offering. Are they seeking the grace of God or instead seeking something worldly that will never satisfy like the grace God gives? Nothing in this world will fill the longing in our hearts. Only Jesus will fill our emptiness.

To receive the grace God offers us this Advent an examination of conscience is necessary and that is why celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation is important. As we examine our consciences we recognize may things about ourselves and where we fall short, because we all fall short. We need to ask for mercy in the Sacrament with a priest so that our hearts can become a manger to receive Jesus.

At the end of this month we will hear a lot of talk of New Year resolutions. But now, Advent, is the time for making a resolution, a resolution to live more like Jesus whose birth we are about to celebrate. Jesus is the light of the world and Advent is a time to come out of the darkness and walk in the light.