Editorial

Getting ready for Christmas

What are we doing to prepare for the Christmas holiday? Are we decorating for the season? Or buying presents? Or planning Christmas dinner? These are necessary preparations for the holiday—a special time for family togetherness, friendship and good cheer.

But what are we doing to prepare for the holy day, the day when we celebrate the mystery of the incarnation, the birth of the God-man, the miraculous appearance of the long awaited “Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us”? Isn’t it just as important (or more important) to prepare ourselves spiritually for Christmas?

We know how to celebrate the Christmas holiday. But the holy day is more elusive. It’s easy to get distracted by the wonderful things that are happening all around us—the joyous music, the good food, the bright lights and the old favorites we watch on television, Blu-ray discs or through streaming services. How do we use this time productively from a spiritual point of view? How do we celebrate the holy day in spite of all the holiday’s customary and enjoyable distractions?

Especially during this time of pandemic, it’s a struggle to prepare ourselves spiritually for the miracle of Christ’s coming again. We are tempted to forget what this great feast of Christmas is really all about.

We have been so distracted by COVID-19, by politics and social unrest, and by whatever hardships we have had to endure for what seems like forever, that it’s hard to let go of our anxieties and be ready for the simple beauty of our Lord’s birth.

So, understanding the difficulties, here are some suggestions to help us get ready for Christmas the holy day, not Christmas the holiday:

• Let’s set aside time for prayer. This should be quiet time, time for each of us to be alone with God. Let’s spend some quality time with Jesus. Thank him for the gift of Christmas and for all the blessings in our lives. Ask for his help with all the things that are bothering us during this difficult time. Then listen quietly for his response. We may not know it, or understand it, but God always responds to our prayers. The best way to prepare for the Christmas holy day is to give our hearts to him in prayer.

• Go to confession. There is no better way to prepare ourselves spiritually than to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation, to confess our sins, to do penance and to begin again filled with God’s grace. “Do not be afraid,” the Lord tells us repeatedly. We don’t have to carry secret burdens of guilt deep inside us, and we don’t have to let past hurts and disappointments ruin our Christmas celebration. We can ask for (and confidently receive) God’s forgiveness for our own sins as well as the grace to forgive those who have sinned against us. This sacrament is a great gift from God. Let’s accept it gratefully, and use it wisely!

• Let’s be more faithful—and more attentive—in our Mass attendance even if we have to participate virtually. Advent liturgies are among the most beautiful and hope-filled celebrations in the Church calendar. Masses on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and throughout the entire Christmas season can fill our hearts with gladness and remind us that God truly is with us (especially in his gift-of-self, the holy Eucharist).

• Give spiritual gifts. Gift-giving is an important part of the Christmas tradition, but the gifts we give (and receive) don’t have to be material things. Even with social distancing, a smile, a kind word, and a virtual helping hand can all be precious gifts, especially when given at the right moment to persons in need. Let’s make this truly the season of giving, but let our gifts be spiritual gifts of self as well as material gifts!

Preparing ourselves spiritually for the Christmas holy day isn’t easy, especially in these unsettling times. Many things seek to distract us from concentrating on the wonder of Christ’s birth and the promise that he will come again in glory. Let’s resist the temptation to experience Christmas as just another holiday. Let’s make it a day of holiness, a day of hope, and a day when we experience once again the powerful presence of Jesus—who really is God-with-us—in our personal lives and in our world.

Come, Lord Jesus. Bring healing, hope and peace to our troubled world. Enter into our hearts and homes this Christmas. Teach us to give generously as you do. Help us welcome you, love you and serve you—this Christmas Day and always!

—Daniel Conway