Good Morning Church!
It has been a busy Advent here at All Angels! In a season that is traditionally quiet we have found that God calls us to be active proclaimers of the Gospel. It is very true that we can sometimes try to force a particular mood or tradition upon a season or time of year. Many try to do this only to have events send them to different places, different frames of mind, and most certainly different circumstances.
During this normally quiet and contemplative season, we have said goodbye to a beloved parishioner, we have worked with the homeless, we have aided and given counsel to those in need, we have taught children, and greeted old friends and new in our church. All this activity might seem like something that goes against the quiet, soft season of Advent, but when we think about it we might ask what would John the Baptist do? I have always like to think of Advent is a time for us to contemplate the ministry of St John the Baptist, The Blessed Virgin Mary, and even St. Joseph. These were ministries that prepared the way for the Incarnation in which we will celebrate in due course. These activities of preparing for this God’s work and by doing this work we are doing exactly what the Baptist proclaimed in our Gospel lessons for this Advent.
This might lead us to ask ourselves the question Father Steve asked us. That question is “What are we to do?” We are to simply live an Advent life and by that I mean, we are to actively “Prepare the way for the Lord and make his path straight” and this is what we are called to do year round.
You might still have the question, “What are we to do?” There are many ways to prepare the way, but I’ll suggest one to us all.
One way that we can continue to prepare the way of the Lord is to intentionally pray. I am asking that we all take few moments out of our busy day to pray for those whose Advent and Christmas look remarkably different this year. I want us to pray for those who have experienced loss. I want us to pray for those whose health, mental or physical, is presenting a new chapter in their lives. I want us to pray for those who are not able to be with family for whatever reason this year. This is the preparation in which we can all participate.
This Advent, through prayer and through work, let us all prepare the way for the Lord in the world and in our hearts.
It has been a busy Advent here at All Angels! In a season that is traditionally quiet we have found that God calls us to be active proclaimers of the Gospel. It is very true that we can sometimes try to force a particular mood or tradition upon a season or time of year. Many try to do this only to have events send them to different places, different frames of mind, and most certainly different circumstances.
During this normally quiet and contemplative season, we have said goodbye to a beloved parishioner, we have worked with the homeless, we have aided and given counsel to those in need, we have taught children, and greeted old friends and new in our church. All this activity might seem like something that goes against the quiet, soft season of Advent, but when we think about it we might ask what would John the Baptist do? I have always like to think of Advent is a time for us to contemplate the ministry of St John the Baptist, The Blessed Virgin Mary, and even St. Joseph. These were ministries that prepared the way for the Incarnation in which we will celebrate in due course. These activities of preparing for this God’s work and by doing this work we are doing exactly what the Baptist proclaimed in our Gospel lessons for this Advent.
This might lead us to ask ourselves the question Father Steve asked us. That question is “What are we to do?” We are to simply live an Advent life and by that I mean, we are to actively “Prepare the way for the Lord and make his path straight” and this is what we are called to do year round.
You might still have the question, “What are we to do?” There are many ways to prepare the way, but I’ll suggest one to us all.
One way that we can continue to prepare the way of the Lord is to intentionally pray. I am asking that we all take few moments out of our busy day to pray for those whose Advent and Christmas look remarkably different this year. I want us to pray for those who have experienced loss. I want us to pray for those whose health, mental or physical, is presenting a new chapter in their lives. I want us to pray for those who are not able to be with family for whatever reason this year. This is the preparation in which we can all participate.
This Advent, through prayer and through work, let us all prepare the way for the Lord in the world and in our hearts.