Each year, when we write down this date we might know a wide range of emotions from excitement to anxiety.  There is less than ten days until Christmas and we still might have some shopping and decorating to do.  There might also well be a sense that our spiritual preparation for Christmas has not been all that we had desired when Advent began.  This is a busy time of year and we might feel ourselves pulled in different directions by competing expectations on our time and energy.  As the 3^rd week of Advent begins, we are not allowed the luxury of more time because, since Christmas falls on Monday this year, this is the shortest Advent season possible.   Technically, the 4^th week of Advent is only 24 hours long this year. 

Even though the time is short and expectations may be high, there are still many opportunities for blessings in the Advent season.  As we prepare to celebrate the gift of God in Jesus, what gift could you give yourself to be more open to this grace?  What is realistic?  Perhaps you might set aside one evening between now and Christmas as your own personal ‘retreat time’ when you could read reflectively from a spiritual book on your shelf or spend some time with a resource online.  My favorite resource is “Sacred Space” - a service of the Irish Jesuits. Spending 15 minutes a day with this material could be a source of enrichment and replenishment.

May you find some space in these final days of Advent to give yourself the gift that you richly deserve.

Advent blessings!

Fr. Bob

PS:  I thank those who have made the adjustment in their schedules to participate in Mass on Christmas Day rather than a usual tradition of Mass on Christmas Eve.   When Christmas falls on Monday, it doesn't make much sense to come to Mass on Sunday for the 4^th Sunday of Advent and return a few hours later for Christmas.  At least, you can retrieve one full day for Advent anticipation.  With the popularity of vigil Masses after the Second Vatican Council, we have raised a whole generation of Catholics who have never been to Mass on Christmas Day!