{"id":7993,"date":"2011-12-05T10:00:20","date_gmt":"2011-12-05T16:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=7993"},"modified":"2011-12-05T10:21:55","modified_gmt":"2011-12-05T16:21:55","slug":"the-art-of-making-a-good-advent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2011\/12\/the-art-of-making-a-good-advent\/","title":{"rendered":"The Art of Making a Good Advent"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>During the past few years I have found that the first Sunday of Advent, much like its secular equivalent of New Year\u2019s Day on January 1, is a great time of looking forward with hope and anticipation, a chance to \u201crestart the spiritual clock\u201d and to reflect on what we can do to better prepare for Christ\u2019s coming. (The word “Advent” comes from the Latin \u201cAdventus,\u201d which means “coming.”)<\/p>\n

I think we are fortunate that Advent comes on the heels of the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S. because if we\u2019ve spent a few hours during Thanksgiving reflecting on what we\u2019re thankful for, and for reconnecting with people in our lives, we are given a clear reminder of the things matter most<\/em> in life.<\/p>\n

With these thoughts fresh in mind, we can also see where our attention can be redirected, and our time and resources better allocated in order to make the best use of all the gifts we have received.<\/p>\n

You will recall that in a recent Gospel reading, we were reminded of our need to be more faithful stewards of the talents given us, servants who wisely invest these talents, rather than bury them. Our time itself is a gift that also must be invested wisely.<\/p>\n

Last Things and First Things<\/strong>
\nAdvent is the season of joyful preparation for the arrival of Christ. At the end of the liturgical year, we were reminded to \u201cremain vigilant\u201d and prepared for Christ\u2019s second coming and to make sure we have enough \u201coil for our lamps,\u201d — that is, to be actively -not minimally — obeying God and caring for his people,. We are told that we will be judged for what we did to the \u201cleast of these.\u201d<\/p>\n

This focus on final things at the end of liturgical year is not random but rather is the natural first step in preparing our hearts and minds for the season. Advent season is simply a special gift of time that helps us examine our lives in light of the fact that we know our time on earth is very limited and that there is much for us to do.<\/p>\n

To prepare wisely, some planning is in order. Good planning takes time and effort. One way to get the time necessary for good planning is to do a formal retreat (if such a retreat allows the time needed for reflection).<\/p>\n

If a formal retreat is not possible, we should consider carving out a few hours just to meditate on how we will use this season to draw closer to Christ. We should do this as early as possible before we get sucked into the whirling vortex of all the demands placed on us as the holidays draw near.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Simplify<\/strong>
\nIn my world, to ‘prepare’ is to ‘simplify’. That means I have to choose to focus on a few important activities based on how well they help me be more available to God and to people. If I fill all my free time with parties, concerts, shopping, decorating, etc., there isn\u2019t much time or energy left for anything else. It may be uncomfortable but necessary to remove some enjoyable but superfluous activities from my schedule to allow time for the most important things.<\/p>\n

Time Adjustments<\/strong>
\nAdvent is similar to Lent in the sense that it may require giving something up. (Traditionally, Advent has been celebrated with prayer and fasting, which is why it is known as the “little Lent.”)<\/p>\n

Can I honestly make a good Advent without a solid commitment to time for prayer, spiritual reading, and works of charity?\u00a0\u00a0 Let\u2019s face it: if advent is going to serve a genuinely spiritual purpose some of my priorities may need to be shifted, which means I may doing things differently than in the past. If spiritual preparation is not made the key focus of Advent, everything else that competes for my time will crowd out the important things.<\/p>\n

In addition to setting apart a fixed time of day for prayer (if you are not already doing so) here are just a few ideas for ways to make Advent a time of true preparation.<\/p>\n