It is really great news that the church has reopened and it is a welcome return to our new-normal. 

We’re now entering the second week of Advent with a bit more of a spring in our step and more joy in our hearts. Last week, here in the church, we lit the first candle on our Advent wreath. This was a visible sign that we’re entering the season of Advent and starting a new liturgical year in the Church. Next Sunday, the third in Advent is Gaudete Sunday and we will have passed the mid-point of Advent. We are also faced with that growing realisation that Christmas Day is not that far away and we have so much to do. This year we are not just dealing with our usual Christmas preparations but we’re also having to take into account the constraints imposed by the Covid restrictions. It may start to feel a bit over whelming. Over the next couple of weeks we have readings about John the Baptist to help us focus and centre on what really matters. 

In the reading this Sunday John the Baptist appears announcing the imminent arrival of Jesus. In the second reading we have St. Peter pointing to the second coming of Christ. And this is what we do at Advent; we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus whilst looking ahead to that second coming. 

So if you’re now thinking, it’s the second week of Advent and I haven’t yet started to prepare spiritually for this wonderful season then there is still time to do so. Take a few moments today to consider how best you can do this and when you are ready it’s time to take that journey to the real meaning of Christmas.