12/2/18: 1st Sunday of Advent: How to Make this the Best Advent Ever

Today's readings might surprise us. While we are looking forward to preparing for the birth of the baby Jesus, there is nothing about babies in our readings, but instead we hear in Luke's Gospel about the tribulations that will accompany the 2nd coming of Christ and the end of the world. It might not seem very "Advent-ish"... until we remember that the word "Advent" literally means, "coming". What we hear in the Gospel is simply what happens when Christ comes: He shakes everything that is not Him--in the world and in my heart. So to prepare for Christmas, which is what Advent is all about, is simply to let Christ rock my heart.... to rid it of attachments and sin so that He can make His home there. If we do this, it will be the best Christmas ever... because it was the best Advent ever.

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