Advent is the beginning of our Liturgical Year. So, if you are inclined to make New Year’s resolutions, and immediately break them, why not have a faith based trial run! The cool part of this strategy is that a faithful resolution can better prepare us to celebrate the Christmas Season.
While weight loss, and exercise routines might be unattainable, this is the perfect time for us to double down on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Round one begins with the Corporal works, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, offer shelter and support to those in need, visit the sick, ransom the captive, and bury the dead. These are all things that we think of during the lead up to Christmas.
If you are ready to level up, there are the Spiritual Works of Mercy. We don’t always think of these, but they are deeply and spiritually important. We can instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful (in spiritual crisis), call sinners back to God, bear wrongs and injustice with humility and grace, forgive abundantly, comfort the afflicted, and pray for the living and the dead.
These works of our faith can prepare us to welcome Christ the Lord in commemoration of His Birth, but much more importantly, when He comes again.
This week, let us pray that we can approach the world with an open heart, to care for those both physically and spiritually in need. When we do this, we truly see, and walk with Christ.
God Bless and have a fruitful Advent.