It’s hard to believe that December is already upon us! This month is a very busy time for the youth: students are writing exams, juggling extracurricular activities and relationships with friends, families are planning get-togethers for the holidays, and there is much to be done to prepare for Christmas. Sometimes, our lives can feel overwhelming because of our busy schedules, especially at this time of year. Often, in the busyness of December, we can lose sight of how we should be preparing for the coming of Christ and where God is leading us.
We can turn to Mary and St. Luke for some advice on this matter. When the Angel Gabriel asked Mary to become the Mother of God’s Son, Mary’s “yes” was an outward sign of her hope for God’s plan in the world, and her trust of that plan. In his Gospel for this weekend, St. Luke advises us to be alert, even when things are difficult.
What does St. Luke mean by being alert? He’s telling us to pay attention to the small things and ask ourselves how Jesus can use our hands, our mind, and our talents to help those around us. This could mean doing an act of kindness for someone else or taking a few extra seconds to notice nice things that others are doing for us. Being alert could also mean working extra hard at school these next few weeks, doing our chores with a joyful heart, saying an extra “thank you” to our parents, and showing love and respect to our siblings and classmates. Being alert will help us to keep our hearts focused on how we can be the hands and feet of Jesus this Advent season, which will help us better prepare our hearts for His coming at Christmas.
At Church this Sunday, we will light the first candle on the Advent wreath, which symbolizes hope. This virtue is the focus of Advent, as we wait in joyful hope for the birth of Christ on Christmas Day. Having hope can be difficult, especially with the challenges in our world today. We can turn to Mary and her example of trust and hope in God when things are tough. Most of all, we can have hope in Jesus that He will guide us through all the trials we will face. Some lyrics from the song O Come Divine Messiah really emphasize this: “When hope shall sing its triumph, and sadness flee away”. Being in heaven with God is the fulfillment of our earthly hope, and trusting in Jesus, especially when things are difficult, can help us to understand God’s will for us. Have hope that this Advent season will bring special blessings to you and your family.
~ Sarah, Youth Ministry Team Member
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