Stay close to Jesus during Advent
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
(Advent Note 3)
Always stay close to Jesus and particularly as you prepare for your Christmas celebration. Staying close to Jesus means talking to Him in prayer and doing the right thing, that is, not sinning!
I pray a lot, morning and evening and times in between. As a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, an order for lay people, for 31+ years, I am part of a fraternity that meets once a month. I am also active on-line: see https://www.dmfofs2.com/ . I write Spiritual Reflections: that’s what this is. These reflections are written for everyone, for the Franciscan family and for ordinary Catholics, alike.
I have found in these many years that I cannot do without Jesus. He has become part of my life; I couldn’t imagine it any other way. I’ve made it my business to have Him increase in me, while I decrease. (cf. John 3:30) Initially that was difficult. We’re all sinners so we have to curtail that part of our lives. Stop sinning if you can, and you can when you try. At the times when I have failed, I became very sad, because then I knew I had let Him down. Fortunately, Catholics have the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It allows us to ask for forgiveness.
All Catholics are bound by the Ten Commandments - “4. Honor your Father and your Mother.” That also means obey your religious superiors, civil authorities, etc. I used to be a Monk for almost five years. The order in question no longer exists because there were insufficient members to continue. I mention this because I’ve done all sort of things in my life, and this was a rich experience. I certainly found out what monastic obedience was all about.
Stay close to the Lord, in 15 days it will be Christmas, celebrate this wonderful gift of Jesus with the commitment to sin no more!
Peace! Have a Blessed Christmas!
Fred