Written by GiveCentral• August 9, 2024• 1:58 pm• Pastoral Notes

Advent Reflections: Inviting Christ into Our Lives Today and Beyond

John the Baptist is in the desert, near to Jerusalem, proclaiming a baptism of forgiveness and announcing the coming of the Lord with great anticipation. Yet, he feels unworthy of the Lord, his own cousin, Jesus. Even so, Jesus will come to him! How many of us feel unworthy? How many stay away from Christ because they feel unworthy or unwelcome? The good news is that the Lord wants to come to them, just as he came to his cousin, John. Jesus is the very embodiment of the proclamation we heard from the Prophet Isaiah in today’s 1st reading. He is the one who will bring God’s comfort to His people! In Christ, their oppression is at an end. If Advent is about the coming of the Lord, let us take this time to invite Him to come into our hearts and souls now! Call to action: St. Bernard referred to the coming of Christ (Advent) in three ways. The first was the coming of Jesus at Christmas as a matter of history (past). The second is the Advent of the Lord in the form of the Holy Spirit, who is here with us now guiding the Church (present). And the third is the Advent regarding the coming of Christ at the end of all time to unveil the new creation (future). In modern times we have tended to focus only on the first of St. Bernard’s meanings of Advent. This has, no doubt, been exacerbated by the commercialization of Christmas and the entire holiday season. However, if we are responsible pastors, we need to help our people have the fuller understanding of what Advent means for us as Christians. When we decorate our homes and churches, we are not merely mimicking our neighbors but making a statement about the future! All things shall be made new in Christ, and in Christ we shall dwell in the light! Let’s educate our people about why we decorate and what it means from a Christian point of view! You can use your GC Smart Tools to send short messages to your people that will educate them and remind them of who they are, children of the light! Pastoral Action Points The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe will bring lots of parishioners and visitors to your parish, making this celebration the perfect opportunity to welcome all, grow engagement and donations in support of your mission and ministries. Join Edgar Barroso for a very special webinar to learn more about ways to boost your parish engagement and giving for the Our Lady of Guadalupe feast day. Friday December 8, 2023 at 10 a.m. CLICK HERE to Register! Pastors, have you asked your parishioners to consider their Christmas or end of the year gift to the parish? Join us for an upcoming webinar where you will learn all of the marketing materials and tools GiveCentral has available to assist you with engagement and giving for Christmas and year-end giving. DEC 11 Webinar Registration DEC 15 Webinar Registration DEC 18 Webinar Registration Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube Instagram

Preparing for the Coming of Christ: Advent’s Full Meaning and Parish Engagement
As Advent approaches, we must remember its full meaning. While it’s easy to focus on the historical coming of Christ at Christmas, Advent is also a time to reflect on Christ’s presence with us now through the Holy Spirit and His future return at the end of time. This threefold meaning of Advent offers a deeper connection to the season.
Unfortunately, modern-day celebrations often focus solely on the holiday’s commercial aspects. However, as pastors, it’s our duty to guide our communities in understanding the profound spiritual significance of this time. We decorate our homes and churches not just for tradition, but as a statement of faith in the new creation Christ will unveil.
Let’s help our parishioners fully embrace this season and the coming of Christ by reminding them of who they are—children of the light. Use your GC Smart Tools to send messages that educate and inspire.
Action Points:
- Welcome to the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: This feast day brings many visitors to your parish, presenting an opportunity to engage and invite them into your community. Grow donations and parish involvement by promoting the celebration.
- Encourage Year-End Giving: Remind parishioners to consider making end-of-year gifts. Join upcoming webinars for tips on boosting parish engagement and year-end giving.
Stay connected with us on social media and visit us at support@givecentral.org for any questions.

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