I can remember vividly while I was young and the aura surrounding the welcoming of December as the month where we celebrate the great feast of Christmas!!! By that time the jingle bells Christmas carols will be on air and the human spirit will be bubbling with life knowing very well that Christmas is around the corner. 

The only thing we children are particular about is the eating of rice and chicken which signifies that the Christmas is well celebrated.  But now that I have grown into adulthood, the story has really changed especially with the current economic problems facing the country.   I have come to realize and know that Christmas is not for the eating of rice and chicken but for a somber reflection of how to welcome Jesus Christ into my life and prepare for his second and final coming. 

The period of advent is meant for the preparation for Christmas. Advent is all about Jesus! How do we prepare to meet Jesus during this season of advent? First and foremost, we need to build our relationship with Him based on trust. God is always listening to the yearnings of His children.  But it is a pity that with the slightest temptation, we really do not put our hopes and trust in God but in lesser gods.  We always want to gamble with God by worshipping other gods who cannot solve our problems permanently but aggravate them.

We need to reflect on the Messiah that is coming to live among us.  We therefore need to reconcile with God in our daily lives and activities. As Catholics, the sacrament of confession is readily available for us to tell God we are sorry for all that we have done which is or are against the rules of the Almighty.  Reconciliation should not be only for God but to our fellow neighbours that we have offended overtime in our actions and inactions, in our thoughts, words and deeds. We should approach our fellow brothers and sisters with a contrite heart and tell them we are sorry. God will definitely appreciate this from us because He does not rejoice in the death of a sinner but rejoices in one who reconciles with Him and his neighbours thereby bringing peace and tranquility to the whole world.

There is much about Advent to enjoy, but in the midst of our belief as Catholics we know that just as we prepare for Christmas, so we have to make ready to welcome Jesus in our lives. Are you ready for the coming of Jesus? We are the candles of Joy and Love! We are filled and sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who activates the compassion of Christ by sharing the love of God in joyful service to others. We are the Christ Candle that reminds the world that Christ died for lost humanity. We bridge the gap by the way we seek reconciliation with one another and the culture around us to Christ. 

The Advent season celebrates Christ’s anticipated coming again in the fullness of time to rule triumphantly over life in heaven and earth, as well as the coming of Christ as the Infant Saviour whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. And because the season emphasizes Christ’s coming and not just His birth, it is more than just a time to get ready for Christmas.

Christ came to show us what life can and should be. He gave us true and valid principles by which we can live true and valid lives. But Jesus knew that the human heart could not live in isolation. He formed the Church around the concept of a people held together by love. When Christ ascended into heaven, he did not abandon us. He remains with us in His Spirit, the Church, the Sacraments, the Scriptures among others. When Christ comes again, his presence will no longer be hidden behind the signs and symbols of the liturgy or the words of the Scriptures.

In our daily activities, let us be generous in all ramifications.  It would be nice to share our time and money to make the poor joyful. The little we are able to give will make someone remember that we care.  Jesus fed five thousand with 2 fish and 3 loaves of bread.  So in whatever we give, as little as it may look like; we are contributing our quota to the growth and development of somebody.

In this time of advent when we are preparing for the Lord’s coming, our money and time can be judiciously used for the betterment of humanity and society. As Christians our actions should be matched with our beliefs.  Be a role model of Christianity to the world where you live.  Let people see in you the Christ-like attitude.  This should be done because even when Jesus was on the cross he forgave the repentant thief and also forgave the mockers who mocked Him.  He said ‘Father forgive them because they do not know what they are doing”. 

The power of love should radiate all our beings in our daily activities with our fellow human beings. Let love be among us. Love does not hate nor does it fight.  It softens the hard-hearted and makes life meaningful for everyone. Show a little kindness to others through simple and kind gestures.  To survive in this world is to love one another.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to us that whoever believes in Him, will not die but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

The quality of the Christian life is measured by the capacity to love. The Lord has blessed us with different gifts and blessings, then we need to be grateful in all situations. Gratitude is a gift from God because most times we normally think we are so mighty and untouchable; that is why God is sparing our lives but it is not so.  It is because of His Graces and mercies that we continue to live without being punished for our sins. 

Let us continually search for God in all our endeavours.  The search for God should begin with us, families and friends and to the larger society.  Let all our actions and deeds be tailored towards the grace and blessings of God. Call to prayer should be the watchword of Christians especially Catholics.  We are the salt of the world and we should try as much as possible not to lose the taste of the salt.

The search for God in us begins with prayer.  The scriptures say ‘pray at all seasons without rest.’  Prayer is the Staff of office of a good and complete Christian. Let us continually pray to the holy trinity that is, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in whom lays our strength.  Let us pray using Psalm 20 as our prayer point: “May the Lord answer us when we are in trouble! May the God of Jacob protect us! May he send us help from his Temple and give us aid from Mount Zion.  May he accept all our offerings and be pleased with all our sacrifices.  May he give us what we desire and make all our plans succeed.  Then we will shout for joy over our victory and celebrate our triumph by praising our God.  May the Lord answer all our requests.  Now, we know that the Lord gives victory to his chosen King, he answers him from his holy heaven and by his power gives him great victories. Some trust in their war chariots and others in their horses but we trust in the power of the Lord our God.  Such people will stumble and fall, but we will rise and stand firm.  Give victory to the King, O Lord; answer us when we call.  We ask all these through Christ our Lord. Amen!!!

Merry Christmas in Advance!!!

God Bless Nigeria!!!