Well the cold weather is here.  More so for those of us up here in the north than down south, but still cooler down there than normal.  One of my favorite things about the winter is a warm fire blazing in the fireplace.  When I’m cold I love to cuddle up in front of it and feel the warmth radiate all over me.  If I were always warm I wouldn’t need a fire.  Just as if I never got sick I wouldn’t need a doctor.  A doctor is there for us to go to if we need him.

Well, Jesus is there for those of us that need Him.  He came for sinners, not for the perfect (as if there are any of those out there!)  One of the best ways for us to turn to Jesus and receive Him is in the Eucharist.  There are times when we feel we are not worthy of receiving Him, or times we may feel we are not “good” enough to go to communion, but this is when we need Him most!  Just as if we are cold we would not walk away from the fire, or sick we would stay away from the doctor.  Jesus is there to warm and heal our soul and bring us closer to Him.  If we are in a state of mortal sin we may need to prepare to receive Him by going to confession but that is only another instrument of His healing power. 

Receiving the Holy Eucharist is something we should look forward to just as at this time of year we are looking forward to Christmas.  Every time can feel like a child waiting for Christmas morning.  At this time of the year we are celebrating Advent, which is a time of preparation/anticipation for the coming of Christ.  On Sunday mornings we can have that same anticipation as we dress for church, and make that sacrifice of that last cup of coffee or doughnut that we do without so that we have not eaten or drank any thing for 1 hour before communion. 

Why do you go to church?  Have you ever given it much thought?  Is it just because it’s what your supposed to do?  If I had a birthday party and invited all my friends, I would hope that they would come because they wanted to celebrate this special day with me.  I wouldn’t want any one to come because they felt obligated to.  Just as I don’t think Jesus wants us at mass every Sunday because we feel obligated to go.  He wants us to be there to celebrate with Him.  That’s what every mass is – a celebration!   We even bring Him gifts at every mass.  I even encourage you to try to go to a weekday mass and receive Him as often as possible.

 If you missed it from last year please feel free to real my page on The true meaning of Advent.  Also don't forget Wed. Dec. 8 is The Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  I also have a page concerning that ~ Mary

Have a truly blessed Advent season!