Advent Reflections
Advent Reflections
Advent and the Christmas Season is one of the most exciting and wonderful times of the year. Many people go all out decorating the inside and outside of their homes with Christmas trees, lights and ornaments to celebrate this wonderful season. Another tradition that many people participate in during this time of the year is gift giving and gift exchange. Buying that special gift to give to someone and the anticipation of their reaction upon receiving that gift helps to make this time of year exciting and enjoyable. It is the spirit of gift giving that I find myself reflecting upon this Advent Season, especially today.
Advent is a time for preparation and anticipation of receiving the biggest gift of all: our Savior Jesus Christ becoming human. In today’s Gospel reading, Mary is approached by the angel Gabriel and becomes afraid of the news she is about to receive. Gabriel assures her that she has found favor with God and is told that she has been chosen by God to bear the human Son of God, Jesus. To be loved by God this much and trusted to bear the human Messiah IS the most precious gift that anyone could be given. A gift that God continues to be give every day around the world.
December 20, 2004, I received a similar gift; two-fold. On this day, I became a father for the 3rd and 4th time with the birth of my twins, Devyn and Kelly. It was by the miracle and grace of God that we were able to conceive these two, and the duration of the pregnancy was arduous and anxiety filled. As the time grew closer for their birth, I found myself feeling as Mary must have felt when she was told of her conception of Jesus; happy, nervous, excited, anxious, afraid.
But once they both arrived, it was the most joyous and wonderful gift that I have been given. Nothing more precious than seeing two faces staring at you with unconditional love. It was in those first few moments that I realized that the two faces I was looking at were created by God in his own likeness and image. The gift that I was given was the gift of new life and unconditional love in the form of Devyn and Kelly.
During this Advent Season, it is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of decorating, shopping and preparing for the holiday. But it is extremely important to stop, slow down and take an inventory on the reason for the season. The precious gifts of life, family, friends and love. Gifts that God has given to us in His own special way and time.
— Mr. Butch Dimovitz, Science Teacher
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