The pursuit of perfectionism vs holiness in the Christian life
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Advent can be a time of immense stress for many people. The season brings the need for decorations, wrapping paper, Amazon shopping, Christmas cards, and meal planning. It is easy to get short tempered with family and impatient with strangers. Advent provides us the opportunity to focus and appreciate the coming of the Messiah.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” (Matthew 11:28-30)
We know the Christmas story of the coming of Jesus, but we miss the truth that He has come to dwell within us. He comes through each Eucharist to make his home within us and in those we meet. His desire is to make our holiday season less stressful, and more Christ focused. If we focus on the Lord, then peace follows because He is the Prince of Peace. If we focus on Jesus, joy follows because He is the source of joy in the world.
The Messiah walks among us, comes to us, and is ever-present within us. He is the overlooked visitor during the holiday pandemonium in our home. We can focus more on Christ this season by looking for Him in others. I do not like driving in traffic and I find myself impatient with other drivers. Road rage is something that frequently happens in my vehicle, but I then have to remind myself that the other driver is just as loved by the Lord. The Messiah is among us in the lives of our family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. (Even the driver on the road going 5 mph in a 45 mph zone.)
“For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:35-36)
When we find ourselves annoyed at the long lines, impatient with our children, or stressed at all the holiday activities we feel we must attend, we need to stop for just a minute and remind ourselves the Messiah is present in us and in those around us. If we act like we are speaking to the Messiah then we will be more kind, compassionate, and loving. Our level of peace during this Advent and Christmas season correlates with the energy and effort we put into seeing the King of Kings among those we encounter daily.
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
