St. Matthew Catholic Church

First Sunday of Advent Finally it has come! Happy New Year! As Catholics, the first Sunday of Advent, is the beginning of our liturgical year, and therefore today is our “New Year’s day!” The Season of Advent, has always been one of my favorites. Known as a light form of Lent, Advent, is a season of preparation and reflection, much like that of Lent, minus the somber and sobering vibe of the Passion and Death of Jesus, but instead longing for the coming of Jesus into the world at his birth of Christmas.

To many, I tend to come across as a “Scrooge”, or a “Grinch”, primarily between November 1st and December 24th. That is because, the secular society in which we live seeks to circumvent the beauty of the season of Advent (not to mention All Saint’s day, Thanksgiving, and nearly 2 full months), and skip right to Christmas. What the society, though, celebrates as Christmas, unfortunately, seems to forget to put the person of Christ, many times, into the equation. In a country that states, “In God we trust”, we are, in many places to wish “Happy Holidays”, and not a “Merry Christmas.”

This year, though, may we take to heart the words of the Advent hymn, “Joy to the world!” In it’s first verse, the very familiar, though rarely reflected on phrase is the reason for the importance of this hallowed season, “Let every heart prepare Him room.” These words are a reminder to us that we cannot add something/someone to our lives if that space is filled by someone/something else already. Thus, the need for the season of Advent to prepare our hearts, and our very lives, to in a real way receive the person of Christ at the celebration of Christmas.

- Fr. Danny Grover