The Church helps us prepare to celebrate the First Coming of the Lord by giving us readings to prepare for the Second Coming of the Lord. Jesus tells us: "Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Mtt 24: 42) Am I ready for the Second Coming? Or do I get caught up in the sybaritic pleasures advertised by secular "Christmas"? St Paul admonishes the Romans: "... let us live honourably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy." (Rm 13: 13) The holiness of my celebration of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ will be informed by the holiness of my Advent. Many penitents, in this season, speak of struggling with anger. The period prior to Christmas and the seemingly inevitable oppression brought about through social expectations of gift giving and hospitality, can be stressful and suck us into a secular mindset that prioritizes status and fleeting pleasures. We need to stay alert to the mission given us by the Lord to follow him and not the dictates of a society which remains oblivious to the joy of the Gospel. Let us use the readings and our faith to stay focused on those things that truly last: "Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." (Mtt 24: 44)
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