From the Desk of the Superintendent- Advent 2016

November has come and gone and now we enter the Advent season. On Monday at our opening prayer at St. Basil Catholic Education Centre, I began with this message from Creighton University Online Ministries:

As we begin Advent, we light one candle in the midst of all the darkness in our lives and in the world. It symbolizes our longing, our desire, our hope.

When we wake up, each day this week, we could light that candle, just by taking a few moments to focus. We could pause for a minute at the side of our bed, or while putting on our slippers or our robe and light an inner candle. Who among us doesn’t have time to pause for a moment? We could each find our way to pray something like this:

“Lord, the light I choose to let into my life today is based on my trust in you. It is a weak flame, but I so much desire that it dispel a bit more darkness today. Today, I just want to taste the longing I have for you as I go to the meeting this morning, carry out the responsibilities of my work, face the frustration of some difficult relationships. Let this candle be my reminder today of my hope in your coming.”

And every night this week, we can pause briefly, perhaps as we sit for a minute at the edge of the bed. We can be aware of how that one, small candle’s worth of desire brought light into this day. And we can give thanks. Going to bed each night this week with some gratitude is part of the preparation for growing anticipation and desire.

Come, Lord Jesus! Come and visit your people. We await your coming. Come, O Lord!

The season of Advent is a journey of preparation for the coming of the Christ child. And in that journey we are reminded to light our own candle that burns within each of us, but also to help light the candle of others who may be in need. Unfortunately, there are many in our Holy Spirit community whose light is dim because of tragedy or illness, broken relationships or just brokenness. As we journey together, I ask that we all strive to offer more compassion and patience, more love and support and to keep Christ in our hearts and prayer on our lips.

May God bless you during this season of Advent!