Reflection 11/30/2020:

It’s the first week of December and that of course ushers in a million and one things that we need to do.  At OLMC, we have been fortunate enough to enjoy in-person learning for 16 weeks.  Given where we started, this is nothing to take lightly.  The next few weeks will put us into Christmas and on our “down-hill run” which is something I’ve been looking forward to since May.  The problem with this is that I have been so focused in the next step process that I have forgotten to celebrate the small victories.  Maybe we are all a little guilty of that. 

Sunday marked the beginning of the Advent Season.  In four short weeks we will be celebrating Christmas.  To many, this means that there will be nothing short of a whirlwind of planning, shopping, cleaning, preparing, cooking, wrapping, more planning, crying, yelling, etc... that will take place over these four weeks leaving those people, in the end with little appreciation and even less energy.  For me, this sounds a lot like what the last nine months were like.  Perhaps this is the reason I need to focus on this Advent Season more than any other Advent during my life.  Our world is currently cluttered with noise and fear.  Our world is in need of hope now more than ever and what does Advent offer, what is the purpose of this season; Hope.  We have prayed for Christ’s intercession on our world and what Advent reminds us is the concept of Emmanuel. 

Emmanuel, when translated, means God with Us.  We need to always remember that Christ didn’t only come before, He not only will come again, but He is here with us always!  The unfortunate truth is that more often than not, we just simply don’t hear Him because of nothing more than our failure to listen.  The season of Advent wasn’t meant to be cluttered with all of these needless things that were afore-mentioned; it is to be spent in daily prayer, slowing ourselves down and opening our hearts and ears to Christ’s promise.  Over the last several months of planning, scheduling, adapting, re-scheduling, I have been so focused looking into “tomorrow” that I have overlooked all too often one of God’s greatest gifts – Today. 

Look, we cannot control what is going to happen from one day to the next.  We are taking precautions, following protocol and digesting as much information as we can in one setting without deadening our senses.  What we can control is how we approach our preparation of the celebration of Christ’s birth.  Do not allow the world to take yet one more thing from your faith journey.  Take the time to pray and listen.  Take time to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.  Take time to read the scripture.  Take time to prepare for the coming of Christ in your life.  Enjoy the season of Advent and drawing closer to your faith.  In a society that longs for so much control, there is something that you actually can control...now what are you waiting for?

https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/Daily-prayers.html

Mr. Swann - Principal