Advent is here. What a marvelous time in which to renew your desire

"Rejoice and be glad that so great and good a Lord, on coming into the Virgin's womb, willed to appear despised, needy, and poor in this world, so that men who were in dire poverty and suffering great need of heavenly food might be made rich in him." -- St. Clare of Assisi

Gospel Text: (MK 13:33-37)

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Be watchful! Be alert!

You do not know when the time will come.

It is like a man traveling abroad.

He leaves home and places his servants in charge,

each with his own work,

and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.

Watch, therefore;

you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,

whether in the evening, or at midnight,

or at cockcrow, or in the morning.

May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.

What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

Waiting is about time.  Waiting is focused on the future, not a backward look or even a glance into the past. A looking forward to a new, different time, a new experience.  Something is coming – good or bad, it is coming.

The Church teaches that Advent is a time of waiting, anticipation, expectation, joy and preparation for the coming of Jesus, the promised messiah.  A season of looking forward to something wonderful – the promise of the ages. And so it is.

This Advent season we take our cue from Mary.  When asked to be the mother of the Savior, she said that powerful word, "Yes."  At Mass we sing our "Yes" at the great "Amen" at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer.  We proclaim our "Yes" when we say "Amen" and receive Holy Communion.  We give ourselves to God and ask him to receive us, mold us, shape us, form us, and come to dwell within us.  

Then each person we come in contact with will feel the Lord's presence in their life.  Every day can be Christmas.