Be Hopeful, Be Ready, Be Joyful, Be Love!

December 21, 2008

Setting Our Church on Fire

Be Hopeful, Be Ready,
Be Joyful, Be Love!
You never know what you might find in “junk” mail! The other day I received an Advent sampler and came across this little Advent key-ring tag with the words: “Be Hopeful, Be Ready, Be Joyful, Be Love!” and thought what a perfect way to summarize the season of Advent!

Be Hopeful: This world of ours seems so full of bad news lately. The economy is down, our troops are still in combat, and there is world hunger and strife. On this Christmas Day let us be hopeful. The Lord will see us through the bad times and the good. “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Rom 5:5)

Be Ready: During Advent we make ready the path for our Lord. This Christmas let us examine our conscious and ask ourselves “Are we ready to meet the Lord?” Let us make ready our lives so that we become true disciples of Christ. “So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Mt 24:44)

Be Joyful: Be joyous… the Lord is coming! When we come to Christmas Mass this year let us sing out with strong voice and let our joy ring to the heavens. “All you peoples, clap your hands; shout to God with joyful cries.” (Ps 47:2)

Be Love: Sacred Scripture instructs us to love one another. Our Lord’s Prayer tells us to “forgive those who trespass against us.” Perhaps we have a “black sheep” in the family or perhaps we have had an argument with someone. This Christmas let us make a special effort to practice forgiveness and embrace those who most need our love. “So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us.” (Eph 5:1–2)

May you all have a Blessed Christmas… Holly Clark