As we enter into the final week of Advent, let’s revisit how we here at Holy Family have promoted the importance of preparing for the Incarnation of our God, being born into human life through Jesus Christ, and the miracles that abound from this awe-filled time of the year.
Prepare
Each Advent calls us to prepare. John the Baptist’s message is not only focused on Jesus, it is rooted in the prophetic words of the ancient prophet Isaiah, “…a voice crying out in the desert to prepare the way of the Lord.” (40:3) This final week can still be filled with plenty of spiritual preparation for Christ’s birth.
Repent
Repenting not only challenges us to turn away from sins, it calls us to be countercultural, going much further in forgiveness and imagining God’s Kingdom breaking into our human kingdom.
Theologian Jack Shea says, “We are not earthlings praying to heaven for our needs. We are heaven’s children with the clay of the earth in our hands, molding it into the world that God envisions.” (The Spiritual Wisdom for Christian Preachers and Teachers, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN)
Shea indicates that this statement is the key one for the entire year of the Gospel of Matthew that we will hear this year.
Do we fail to see the earth as sacred?
Do I fail to see grace in my everyday life?
Do we fail to let the beauty of this world lead us to the eternal beauty of union with God?
Forgive us for forgetting…that eternity and today, the earthly kingdom and the heavenly one, our will and God’s… are all connected by grace beyond measure.
These words were used in the Examination of Conscience that we offered during this past Wednesday’s All Parish Advent Reconciliation Service. We will also be offering extra time for private Reconciliation this Monday from 5:30pm-7:30pm in church.
Accept
Mary provides such inspiration for us. Under the broad mission of preparing, she says YES to a mysterious and challenging mission given by the Angel Gabriel. Let us ACCEPT the miraculous mystery of our God becoming one of us once again this Christmas.
Yes
Not only does Mary say “yes” to loving, supporting and raising the Christ Child conceived in her by the Holy Spirit, but the Gospel of Matthew also includes the “yes” from St. Joseph, who supports both Mary and Jesus with love and devotion.
Let’s let all of this and more enrich how we PRAY as Advent concludes and say YES to the fullness of the Incarnate word of God being born into our hearts this Christmas.
During this holiday season, please consider making a donation to the Tax Credit Scholarship Program! Over the last five years over 100 scholarships have been awarded to qualifying students attending HFCA! The Archdiocese of Chicago has announced a 1-for-1 match for donations made between 12/1/2022 and 3/31/2023. Remember–donors receive a **75% IL income tax credit** on the amount of their donations. This is a win for HFCA, a win for qualifying families, and a win for donors! For more info https://bit.ly/3ue9hZT or reach out to datkins@holyfamilyparish.org.