Welcome back to Best Christmas Ever! where we are exploring 28 ways to make this your best Christmas ever!
#2 is… Begin with purpose. Everything makes sense in relation to purpose. When we lose sight of the purpose of anything, it stops making sense to us, we become confused, lose interest, and disengage.
So, let’s explore the purpose of Advent and Christmas.
What is Christmas? Christmas is the Christian festival and season that celebrates the birth of Jesus. God sent His only son into the world to atone for humanity and restore our covenant and connection with God. It is a moment of singular importance in human history, one that has influenced all of human history for believers and non-believers since that first Christmas night.
The purpose of Christmas is to gratefully remember who we are and all that God has done, is doing, and will continue to do for us.
What is Advent? Advent is the first season of the Christian calendar. The first Sunday of Advent is the New Year’s Day of the Church’s year. Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas, and also a period of mindfulness and preparation for the Seconding Coming of Christ.
Preparation is a critical aspect of success. We prepare for everything we consider important in this life. So, if you want to have your best Christmas ever, preparation will be an essential component. The Church in her wisdom understands this and that is why Advent was established.
What is the purpose? What is the desired outcome? These are critical questions in preparing for anything.
The purpose of Advent is to prepare your soul to receive Jesus at Christmas, in ever new and deeper ways. Keep this purpose ever in mind as you make your plans to prepare for Christmas. Everything will make sense or become senseless in relation to this purpose. If baking cookies helps you achieve this purpose, bake away. Sitting quietly on a park bench, taking long walks in quiet places, visiting your church each day, reading, singing, serving others… whatever it is that helps you achieve the purpose of Advent, give yourself to those activities.
Wake up each day with this purpose in your heart and on your mind. Purpose has a way of transforming the way we live our lives. Allow the purpose of Advent to transform you.
When he was President, Abraham Lincoln wrote to a friend, “Nothing will divert me from my purpose.” Let that be your attitude as you journey toward Christmas this year. And as you know, there will be a great many people and things that will try to divert you from the true purpose of Advent and Christmas. Let nothing divert you from your purpose.
Matthew Kelly
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