ADVENT

Today's Gospel Reading: Mark 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!’”

The first day of Advent! This is a time for us to prepare out hearts for the birth of Jesus. Just as Mary was pregnant with the savior we can be pregnant with anticipation of our coming savior. And hopefully give birth with a new love for our Lord and His Church. We are so blessed to have this season to prepare. It's hard not to get caught up in the world's ways during this time of year. The world has been preparing for months with Christmas merchandise (I saw some as Early as July!) and the Christmas music has been playing since early November...........I hope this reminds people of the "Reason for the Season". Charlie and I spent this weekend putting up are Christmas decorations. So did my sister Brenda because her children kept bugging her. I think Rhonda and Kevin did as well. Now Linda is more traditional. They do the JesseTree and the advent candles and in the past didn't put their tree up until Christmas Eve. Just as children get so excited about Christmas may we be as excited as them about the true meaning. I will never forget how my niece Jennifer summed up Christmas when she was about five years old. She said that because Jesus was on the cross and couldn't come down to deliver the Christmas presents He hadSanta Clause do if for him. She may have gotten her season's mixed up but at least she didn't forget our Lord! So happy Advent!