Reflection for the second Sunday of Advent

Advent—A Season of the Heart
A reflection for the second Sunday of Advent from Sister Valerie Sweeney, Pastoral Care Associate at Jennings

Advent as a season is in danger of being lost in the commercialization of Christmas. Too often the decorations, Christmas music, and gift items appear in the stores before Halloween! In many homes the Christmas tree is now a standard part of Thanksgiving gatherings. Holiday parties fill lots of spaces on our calendars throughout December. None of these things are bad in themselves, but we can surely say they can distract us from the spirit of Advent.

Advent is meant to be a season of preparation—four weeks of reflection and inner work to open our hearts for the coming of the Lord. We need to make time to hear the “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12) in our heart that reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas—the coming of the Messiah. Not just his coming 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, but God’s coming each moment in the people and experiences of our daily lives, and the coming of our Lord in glory at the end of time.

Advent is also a time to take a look at our own lives and reflect on ourselves as persons. What are our gifts? What are the miracles of life that we have experienced personally? What are the many blessings that have occurred in this past year? There have been dark hours, too, but looking at the good in life can help us gain perspective and appreciate all that makes each of us who we are. Like Mary, it is good for us to “treasure all these things and ponder them in our heart” (Lk. 2:19).

So set some time aside this Advent to go into your heart-space, even for a few moments each day. Light a candle, enjoy some silence, and experience God’s presence deep within you. That’s a gift you can give yourself that will spill over to the lives of the people you meet along the way.