Tomorrow officially marks the end of the liturgical year; Sunday we begin the Season of Advent. Over the next couple of days, it might be quite beneficial for all of us to consider if there is some way we could foster a deepening of faith in this upcoming season. What is the Lord inviting us to do over these next four weeks as we prepare to welcome the Christ-child at Christmas? Is there some area where we need to grow?

We often times forget that Advent is another one of those penitential seasons, when the Church invites us to consider doing acts of penance or charity as a way of building self-discipline so that we can grow in some aspect of our spiritual lives. It is supposed to be a season when we focus on cutting out those things in our lives that are preventing us from completely welcoming Jesus into our hearts.

The Gospel acclamation for this morning reminds us of why it’s important to focus on growing spiritual…really at all times, but most especially during these penitential seasons: “because your redemption is at hand.”

Jesus will come again. We know this, not only because the Church has been reminding us of that in our readings the last couple of weeks, but also because the Lord Himself told us. We don’t know when that will happen. It could be today; it could be tomorrow; it could be 500 years from now. We have no way of knowing. But when it does happen, will we, as a human family, be prepared?

If we don’t focus on improving our relationship with the Lord, growing in our desire to spend more time with the Lord in prayer, embracing this invitation to cut out those things in our lives that are preventing us from being in total communion with Him…then we might just be caught off guard when He does return. We might not get the opportunity to spend Eternity with Him.

So, let’s make this upcoming Advent season count. Let’s make it worthwhile so that we can all end up enjoying Eternal Life with the Father when the time comes.

Photo: Joanna Kosinska. Used under Unsplash license.