"While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:6-7
During this time of year, life gets busy. We tend to get worked up on preparing for the holiday that we constantly worry about what gifts we need to purchase for our family/friends, decorating, and figuring out the meal plan on Christmas day. In society, in general,, it’s easy to forget what Christmas means and why we even celebrate it in the first place. As a Catholic, Christmas is an amazing celebration of Jesus’ birth, and there can be times where we forget that meaning. The last four weeks before Christmas, we go through four weeks of Advent, which is when we come closer to our Lord and prepare for His birth. While that is true, there are many times we get sidetracked and end up not realizing it until the last week of Advent. This is a common occurrence for many (including myself), especially when you’re in college or high school. We are usually stressed with finals and last minute assignments which can make it difficult to focus on the Advent season. Having to deal with this issue for many years, I have found three tips to help grow our relationship with the Lord and know the true meaning of what Christmas is.
All of these things can help you find the correct mindset in having a good and healthy Christmas. While we are celebrating Jesus’ birth, it could help us reflect on our Faith. While there are times during the year we are busy, we can take this opportunity to grow in faith ahead and know what we can do to be closer to our Lord. This can also lead into a good transition towards the Lenten season as we prepare for Easter this spring.
During this time of year, life gets busy. We tend to get worked up on preparing for the holiday that we constantly worry about what gifts we need to purchase for our family/friends, decorating, and figuring out the meal plan on Christmas day. In society, in general,, it’s easy to forget what Christmas means and why we even celebrate it in the first place. As a Catholic, Christmas is an amazing celebration of Jesus’ birth, and there can be times where we forget that meaning. The last four weeks before Christmas, we go through four weeks of Advent, which is when we come closer to our Lord and prepare for His birth. While that is true, there are many times we get sidetracked and end up not realizing it until the last week of Advent. This is a common occurrence for many (including myself), especially when you’re in college or high school. We are usually stressed with finals and last minute assignments which can make it difficult to focus on the Advent season. Having to deal with this issue for many years, I have found three tips to help grow our relationship with the Lord and know the true meaning of what Christmas is.
- Spending at least 20 minutes a day in prayer daily. We can easily make excuses saying that we don’t have time to pray but in reality, it’s not true. We spend so much time watching videos on our phones and scrolling through social media where we struggle to sacrifice that one moment of the day to pray. The devotion I would recommend is the Rosary. Even if you don’t know how to pray the Rosary, there are many videos on youtube to guide you through it. I know, prayer is not always easy and it may be a struggle to find peace the first time around but it will get easier once you make it a priority in your life. When I began to the Rosary daily, I started off with one decade a day and then moved on to two, three, four, and then all five. That would be the best way to pray because it keeps you from being overwhelmed.
- Attending daily Mass whenever you can. It doesn’t have to be everyday but it’s important to attend as much as possible, especially Sundays. While going to Mass every Sunday is something we should do (throughout the year), attending Mass daily can be beneficial to find a few moments to grow closer to God in the Holy Eucharist. It also can keep us from being stressed with other obligations like schoolwork and adult responsibilities.
- Having time to be with friends and family. Throughout the year, most of my family aren’t always together mainly because we’re all so busy. I also live at school in a different state, which can make it even more challanging to see them. Having this opportunity to be with family helps bring us comfort and have time in fellowship. Also during this time of year I get to see some of my old friends again and have a chance to catch up.
All of these things can help you find the correct mindset in having a good and healthy Christmas. While we are celebrating Jesus’ birth, it could help us reflect on our Faith. While there are times during the year we are busy, we can take this opportunity to grow in faith ahead and know what we can do to be closer to our Lord. This can also lead into a good transition towards the Lenten season as we prepare for Easter this spring.