By Alejandra Bravo & Sandra Morales
Office of Evangelization & Family Life Ministries
Archdiocese of Denver
With the arrival of Christmas, our surroundings become a whirlwind of activities. Shopping malls are filled with sales and shoppers, festive music fills the air, and the pressure to find the perfect gift weighs on our minds and wallets.
We are all well aware of the tension and rivalry in capturing people’s attention between the true meaning of Christmas and its commercialized version.
Commercialization starts as early as possible, right after Halloween, sometimes even before. And as soon as we see a Christmas tree and decorations in stores, the pressure begins — pressure to buy gifts and plan and attend parties — leaving us with nothing in our pockets by New Year's Day. We not only feel the pressure to spend but also a desire to receive the most expensive gifts. By the second day of Christmas and the first day of the new year, there’s often a sense of deep loneliness, sadness, unease and a feeling that something is missing. Why? Why do we accept feeling and experiencing all of this during such a beautiful and meaningful time? Amid all this hustle and bustle, it is easy to lose sight of the true meaning of Advent and Christmas.
There is no magic solution that can suddenly change this, but there is hope. After all, the liturgical season of Advent is rooted in hope.
What would happen if, in a spirit of hope and faith, we took a moment to slow down and invited God to be a part of our Christmas preparations?
This Advent, we invite you to dedicate time to prayer and reflection, to seek to deepen your relationship with God. In a world that promotes constant activity, the invitation to slow down may seem counterproductive. Still, precisely in this stillness, we can reconnect with God and our faith, approaching this season with intention.
Prayer is a refuge that helps us shift our focus from stress to the peace and joy that comes with the birth of Jesus. Through prayer, we can clearly see and recognize what God desires most for us. He doesn’t want us to experience feelings of absence or sadness; on the contrary, he wants our lives to have meaning. Taking time for prayer, especially during Eucharistic Adoration, allows us to encounter the living presence of Christ, where we can share our concerns, seek guidance and open our hearts to the gifts he longs to give us. Let’s invite God to be part of our preparations, asking for what we want and what he desires for us and our loved ones, such as love, patience and understanding.
If you’re new to prayer or need guidance, here are a few practical steps:
Find a quiet space and focus on God. You can start with a prayer of gratitude or an honest conversation with the Lord in which you can include the following points and offer them to him.
Examine your physical state: What is happening in your body?
Explore your mental state: What is troubling you most?
Observe your emotional state: What emotions are you experiencing as you enter into prayer?
Eucharistic Adoration: Meditate on the Scripture readings of the day or any passage that stands out to you, and keep a journal. Dedicate at least 30 minutes to deepen your understanding of what the Lord wants to tell you. Sit in silence and listen to the voice of God in your heart.
Instead of focusing on material gifts, why not ask God what he wants to gift each person in our lives? Lord, what is most needed in my home? Forgiveness? Reconciliation? Dialogue? Lord, how can I cultivate the spirituality of Advent and Christmas in my home?
By praying for others and understanding their true needs, we reflect genuine love, and they too can experience God’s love.
We can offer our loved ones love, understanding and support, asking God to bless them with what they truly need. This Advent, prayer will help us shift our perspective on gifts and bring us closer to God.
As we move through Advent and Christmas, let us commit to making prayer a daily part of our lives. Slowing down and seeking God’s guidance will allow us to transform this time of stress into one of peace and joy. In the words of St. Teresa of Ávila: “Prayer is an act of love.” May this Advent bring us closer to him, inviting us to receive the greatest gift of all this Christmas: the gift of his presence.
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