Prepare the Way of the Lord!

"Where there is a loss of the sense of sin, the work of Christ in taking away the sins of the world becomes meaningless."
- Fr. Michael Casey

 As we are quickly plowing our way through the Advent Season, how are we doing in our sense of 'Preparing the Way of the Lord?' What have we improved on during the 1st week of Advent? Has our prayer life gotten stronger? Have we given anything extra to those who are in need? Have we looked at our lives and where there is a need for change? To confess a sin we may never have considered a sin before? The above quote is so true, I have found myself in the last few years realizing that I've been doing things that are sinful and through God's grace, especially in the confessional, I've been able to realize that they are sins and start to slowly overcome them. No one said it was going to happen overnight. Sometimes it takes years.

"In our own lives...if we are to prepare a way for the Lord we need to rediscover our own need for redemption, as individuals, as communities and nations, and as the church."

We may think we are doing good, but there are so many things that need healing, change and restoration by the saving blood of the Lamb. We all want a pure heart, whether we are to admit it or not. A goal this next week in advent could be to strive for that purer heart.