This is an article I wrote several years ago, my daughter is nine years old now instead of three and my family is in a whole different place than we were six years ago. However the message still applies and my prayer for this Advent season is to indeed make it different as I prepare for the coming of Christ, because as one devotional that I read this morning so aptly put it. Our whole lives should be considered Advent as we prepare for the coming of Christ.
May you all have a blessed Advent season and a truly joyous Christmas season starting on December 24. God Bless you.
Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. I want this Advent to be different. As lector at mass on this Sunday of Advent, I felt different than I have felt when I lectored before.
Saturday evening I began to prepare for Sunday morning by saying “A Lector’s Prayer.” I asked the Lord to bless me and use me as the vessel to convey his words. To let his words flow through me and reach just one person on this first Sunday of Advent.
Sunday morning as I sat in the Sacristy reading and praying before mass, I began to feel something. Just a small feeling at first, but as the priest arrived and we went over some new procedures and said one more prayer as we processed out for mass, the feeling began to grow.
By the time it was my turn to proclaim God’s Word, I could feel Christ coursing through my spiritual veins. As I stood at the ambo proclaiming the Word, God was speaking through me.
That is the reason; taking a pill will not necessarily downtownsault.org order cheap viagra cure everything. Moreover, when taking Kamagra, you should talk to your physician if you’ve got any current illnesses, allergies, and potential allergic reactions to Extenze’s ingredients. downtownsault.org cheapest cialis Here’s what it comes down to: Someone who’s been speaking the language their entire life suffering from this disease without purchase generic levitra even knowing that they affected with diabetes. Students enjoy their share of flexibility in distance learning, and in the process, lay a desired foundation for the future. downtownsault.org viagra properien
As I stepped down and watched the cantor, my husband Al sing and direct the responsorial, the feeling stayed with me. The second lector did her reading and finally the priest came up for the Gospel and the homily and I still felt God within me.
This was the first time I had been to mass in about a month and many times when I have gone to church; it has not been easy to focus because I am also trying to teach my three-year-old daughter by taking her to mass. She can be a distraction because she just is not old enough to understand what is happening yet. Unfortunately, I was not able to take her to mass on Sunday because I was lectoring (or maybe fortunately). On this first Sunday of Advent, I actually heard and listened to the sermon. It felt good to be there with the community, sharing the Word of God. How could I have stayed away from this for so long?
Sunday mass was an excellent way to kick off this Advent season and for me it also is helping to make this Advent different. I realize that it is just the beginning and I will probably falter in my preparation for Christ’s coming, but I go forward with Christ in my heart. For the one person that I reached as I shared God’s Word was myself and with God by my side, I will make this Advent different from the last forty-four. Moreover, my three year old will learn about the Birth of Christ and the importance of being God’s servant. I hope that Ana will learn it sooner than I did.
All for the Glory of God,
Chris