Making Room in Our Lives for God

Do you have too much to do and too little time in which to do it? If so, you are like most people today. Although we have surrounded ourselves with up-to-the-minute technology and timesaving devices, we remain a "time-poor" society. Never have so many people felt so stressed or so frazzled.

Advent is the season in which we prepare to welcome Jesus into our hearts and lives at Christmas. One way we can prepare for Jesus’ coming is by taking time to reevaluate our priorities. For example, how do we spend our time? Are we really giving our priorities the most time? Or do important things (and relationships) get postponed or even canceled?

As Christians, our number-one priority during Advent is making room in our lives for God. That means giving ourselves more time to listen to God’s work and opening our hearts to receive God’s message. This does not necessarily mean rearranging our already busy schedules. We can reflect on God’s word while driving the car or standing in line at the supermarket.

Jesus comes to those who are ready to receive him. One of the best ways to help young people develop this readiness is by setting a good example. Through our actions and attitudes, we show young people what is truly important to us, and how we welcome Jesus into our lives.


Family Activity

Create a family Advent calendar. Start with two sheets of butcher or other sturdy paper. On the top sheet draw rectangles for 25 or windows to be opened. Each should be numbered. Cut open 3 sides of each rectangle, and fold back the ‘door.’ On the bottom sheet, inside the space of each door or window, have a family member write a practical way to prepare for the coming of Jesus that day. Provide each person an opportunity to suggest activities. If your family includes very young children, write in their suggestions for them. Glue the two sheets together and hang in a prominent place during Advent.

See the Liturgical Calendar on this site for additional information.
See also Catechist—Lent or Teacher—Lent for Liturg