November 28, 2021

                When we celebrate a child’s birthday or an adult is embracing a milestone year a party may be in order to celebrate the event. If so, preparation and planning is needed to make the party memorable and joyous. The Catholic Church in its historic and spiritual perspective knows that we need time to prepare and celebrate the greatest birthday of all, the birth of Jesus Christ. Thus, we prepare for the birthday of Jesus through the spiritual season of Advent. 

     Advent comes from the Latin (ad-venire = to come to).  In essence, we are preparing for the second coming of Christ. The secondary preparation is the birth of Christ, which happened centuries ago. In order for us to come to meet our Savior in his glory, we need an openness of heart; His wondrous love. Reflecting on His birth, we come to understand why God became man: to show us how to truly live life in authentic love. We are then shown that death is not to be feared. We don’t fear death because Jesus has conquered it through His Resurrection. Another way of looking at all of this is Jesus was born to die so we may have life with Him in heaven. We were born to share in the great gift of life. Advent is a time of reflecting on our lives caught up in the mystery of God’s love for us through Jesus. 

     On our birthday, hopefully we take time to reflect on the gift of life and how loved we are by family, friends, relatives and most importantly by the Father. As we prepare for the gift of Christ’s birth it is important for us to reflect on our lives in relationship with Jesus Christ. Why? Because Jesus is always calling us into a deeper relationship. He desires for us to push through and beyond our defenses, our sin, our control, and the masks we wear so that He can embrace us in our authenticity; to embrace us for all eternity.
 
     Each Christmas is a unique opportunity for us. Christmas, in its essence, must reflect the reality that Jesus desires to draw us more deeply into a relationship with him. Those drawn to the manger were drawn into an unspeakable love. Amazement is the look on the faces who embraced God becoming man. As we grow in our love and understanding of Jesus we are drawn down into a silence; a quiet presence abiding in our being that desires to be heard. It is in this quiet presence that we find a new way of seeing life, seeing the world and its relationships. In this stillness we let go of the political platforms, the noise of silent technology that robs us of our peace and the worrying of worries we don’t need to be concerned over. Christmas is unique not in its gifts, tinsel, bows, cookies and parties but in its ability to bring life into a crestfallen soul. Just look around. Why so much disrespect and disregard? How often do we hear, “I really don’t care?” We need to care and we need to show it for this is what Christmas is: a baby born because He cares.

     A vast amount of Christmas movies speak of “magic;” a “magical” time of the year. Love in its pure form is not about “magical” or “things working out.” Christmas love is about an authentic relationship with God being born in a manger. Life is not easy. Magic doesn’t fix reality. Jesus’ life and death is mysterious and mystical and in essence makes things right and joyful. 

     Advent asks us to take time to reflect on our lives in relationship with the Baby born in the manger. Advent ask us to take as much time as we take to buy and wrap presents, baking cookies and decorating. The Catholic Church is wise. She knows secularism destroys relationships. Advent reminds us to not destroy the best gift ever...the gift of love itself...the gift of a baby born in a manger, Jesus Christ.

     I look forward to preparing and planning for a great two-fold birthday celebration...the first and second coming of Jesus Christ.
 
With anticipation,
Fr. Jim Bilot