Happy Second Sunday of Advent! I have to say that this is one of my favorite seasons of the year, and I remember as a child being so excited watching a new candle light up each week as we got closer to Christmas Day! I have to admit that I still have that “child-like” feeling every year when we light the candles of the Advent Wreath! It still takes me back to when I was young, and wondering if I would ever actually get to see Baby Jesus! Now it is a
little different as I also get to see the excitement of my three young daughters as they prepare for the most “wonderful time of the year!” Isn’t that what our faith is all about? Teaching our children to prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ! To prepare them that life will always have challenges, but if they have the peace of Jesus Christ in their hearts, those
challenges will become ways to grow closer to God!

Our Gospel reading this weekend talks about preparing the way of the Lord! John the Baptist tells his followers that the One coming is the
greatest of all, and this One will be bringing the Holy Spirit! What an awesome sight that must have been to hear John talk with such passion
of the coming of the Messiah! The Advent Candle theme this weekend is Peace! O’ how our world desperately needs peace in our lives, and we need it more than ever! Where are we looking for peace these days? Sadly many try finding it in earthly pleasures, and they can’t figure out why they still feel anxious! Only true peace comes from Jesus Christ! Only He can
show us the way to a life filled with peace and love! This Advent Season, let us prepare our hearts, with child-like love, to welcome our Lord and Savior! How can we start today to bring ourselves in greater union with Him?

Happy Advent everyone!