It’s Time to Wake Up & Cast Off Deeds of Darkness!

The season of Advent is a time to wake ourselves up, cast off deeds of darkness, and prepare better for the second coming of Christ.

We don’t always see Advent in this light. Most of us see Advent as a preparatory time for Christmas. A time to get ready for that glorious day with family, friends, and celebrations. Buying gifts, cookie baking, decorating, Christmas concerts, holiday parties, visiting Santa… there’s so much to do and enjoy this time of year. 

But there is a penitential aspect of Advent that we often overlook because we’re so distracted with all the hustle and bustle associated with Christmas. This is why our Church offers more opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Advent season. 

The truth is that we’re not ready yet to meet Christ. If we were, we’d love perfectly, act justly, live the Beatitudes fully, and be in union with the Lord. Can any of us really say that we are doing these things with perfection? No, and that’s why we have Advent in our liturgical year. It helps us pause, reflect, change course, and prepare with expectant hope of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So what do we need to do to be ready? Let me suggest three things:

1. Wake up to where you are in your walk of faith. What is it that’s dimming the light of Christ in my life? Where am I not living the Gospel? Where have I become drowsy?
2. Cast off deeds of darkness. Where do I have the most need for repentance? What dark deeds in my life need to be cast off to better reflect Christ?
3. Prepare our hearts and minds for Christ. How is my prayer life? How are my works of mercy? How can I better prepare to meet Christ when He comes again?

May it be a blessed Advent of waking up and casting off deeds of darkness to prepare for the Great Light of Jesus Christ to enter our lives more fully on Christmas.