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Enter In: Resources for Advent

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent and, if you are in the same boat as me, you are probably in disbelief that we are already on the verge of December. How does time always seem to move so fast!?

The holiday season has already been upon us starting pretty much right after Halloween with Christmas decorations in stores, the gathering of family for Thanksgiving, the busy shopping season of Black Friday and Cyber Monday… everything around us is in full swing as we catapult towards Christmas.

You may already be overwhelmed with the thought of this years Christmas cards, the list of presents for your children, the cookie making parties, the Christmas plays, the traditions of seeing Christmas lights, and all the hard work you put in to make this a fun and joyful time of year. In the midst of all of the events and to-do lists, it can be VERY easy to lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas — the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus Christ the Son of God and Savior of the World, the event that changed the course of human history forever.

As Catholics, we have an incredible gift; a buffer built right into our liturgical season to help us to combat the breakneck speed of the secular Christmas season and remain focused on preparing our hearts to enter even more fully into the true miracle of Christmas. It is a gift to us to help us not to get so caught up in all the other, albeit fun, hubbub. That is the gift of Advent.

As this season begins, check out the different things that your parish has to offer and be intentional in participating in one of your parish events.

If you are looking for some other great ideas for you and your teens to enter into the journey of Advent check out this blog.

If you are looking for a great book, Messiah: Stories of Advent shares the testimony of several individuals who came to this realization in their lives and encountered God in the midst of the mess of doubt, relationships, and loneliness. This Advent season, journey with these authors as they invite you to open the door to Jesus, the Messiah, who deeply desires to transform your mess.

Check out this video for some inspiration as you contemplate the birth of Jesus and the incredible life that He lived.

It indeed is the most wonderful time of the year to grow in your relationship with Christ so don’t miss out on all that you have at your disposal as we wait in great anticipation for the celebration of the birth of the Messiah.

About the Author

Amanda Grubbs

Amanda Grubbs is a graduate from Franciscan University with a degree in Theology and Catechetics with a concentration in Youth Ministry. She serves as the Edge Support Coordinator for Life Teen, and is actively involved at her local parish. She is a Colorado native who now happily resides in the heat and beauty of the desert with her husband and two children. You can email her at [email protected] or follower her on Twitter @LT_AmandaG.