Advent: What is it that I want to prepare for?

At this time of year we are bombarded with so many commercials by those who want to sell us all the ingredients for a perfect Christmas – lots of food and a multitude of gifts. How many of these commercials have Christmas carols in the background? When we stop and listen, we soon realize that the music in the background has little or nothing to do with the image in the foreground. In fact, they are often in direct contrast to one another! Away in a manger, no crib for a bed? Buy this one!

 

This video is similar only in that it has a wordless Christmas carol as the backing music. The difference is that in this case the music has everything to do with the pictures we see. The words of O Come, O Come Emmanuel (a hymn with its roots in the 8^th Century) remind us of the Old Testament prophecies about the promised Messiah. The images show us the life of Jesus, God’s Son, who fulfills those prophecies. Central to the video is Mary, woman of prayer who is open to God’s word in Sacred Scripture, who treasures all these things in her heart.

Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas: everyone seems to agree about that. But in the hustle and bustle of buying gifts, writing letters to Santa, and making cranberry sauce, as Christians we must remember that true preparation for Christmas takes place in our hearts. What we are preparing for is the coming of God’s Son into our lives and our hearts. 

NOTE: This video was made by the Mormon Church. Still, we’ve posted it because, from what we see, it offers a faithful portrayal of the Gospels and could be useful in the apostolate- CL Team. – A.Farmer / Catholic-link