Happy New Year!
Well, Catholic New Year, that is. The first day of Advent is the start of the New Year in our Catholic calendar. We have now entered into Year A in our Liturgical Scripture Readings.
Want to know more about how and why we rotate between Years A, B, & C? Click here.
If you didn’t spend last night anxiously awaiting for midnight with champagne and noise makers, that’s ok. You still have a beautiful opportunity here and now to start this year off with Hope, Faith, Joy and Love. That’s what this season of Advent is all about. Preparing and making room for the Lord’s arrival, Christmas Day. By preparing your heart and making room in your life, you are opening yourself up for the Lord to do His will this year. After all, Scripture tells us:
Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. - James 1:17
Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act. - Psalms 37:4-5
But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us , even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up with Him in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 2:4-7
For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11
“…to give you a future and a hope.” This Sunday we light the first candle on the Advent wreath. This first candle stands for “hope".” It’s sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle” in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. It represents the expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah.
Picture credit: https://www.thesaintsproject.org/mother-of-god/
Do you feel that expectation of hope? Are you anticipating the coming of the Messiah? We don’t have as long to wait compared to the prophets as far back as Isaiah. We know exactly when He’ll arrive: December 25th. Are you ready? What do you hope for this Christmas? Spend this week in prayer talking to God about what you hope for. Don’t let the temptation of “I’m too busy” or “life is too hectic” take over your Advent. The next time you’re alone - even if it’s during a restroom break (for you busy moms)! - take a moment to take a couple deep breaths and talk to the Lord about your hopes for this year.
Trust in Him and He will act.
He will give you the desires of your heart.
He has plans to give you a future and a hope.