Happy Advent! Homily from 12-1-24

Happy (liturgical) New Year!  As we begin the season of Advent and prepare for Christmas, we also turn our calendars to another year in the church.  It's time to reexamine our lives and our direction...hopefully they're both pointed toward Christ!  But if they're not, this is a good time for course correction.  As we wait for God's coming both at the end of time but also in our everyday lives, we can prepare our hearts, minds, and lives for those moments.  Fr. Dave Ambrosy shares with us three ways we can prepare for Christmas in this holy season of Advent.

1. Slow down - take time for God, for yourself, and for others.  In the hustle and bustle of the season, let's not forget the "reason for the season"!
2. Extra time for prayer - take an extra few minutes each day to talk and commune with God.  In the morning, maybe around lunch, or before bedtime, find 5-10 minutes to spend with our Lord wherever you are.
3. Go to confession - give yourself the best Christmas present ever by receiving absolution of all your sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation!  Visit a priest anytime or join us on December 18 at St. Mark Parish in Edgewood, IA for confessions.  We'll be serving a meal from 5:00pm-7:00pm, and several priests will be available to hear confessions from 6:00pm-8:00pm.  Receiving absolution is a beautiful way to prepare your heart for the holy season to come!