It is easy to lose sight of the reason for this season. We are in the middle of Advent right now, but it sure seems to be forgotten. Since Thanksgiving, and even since Halloween in some cases, many of us have been hustling and bustling – busily running to and fro – buying gifts, baking cookies, and adorning our homes with shiny lights and glittery ornaments. Some wait in line for hours, to be one of the first to rush through the doors on Black Friday, hoping to get that prized possession for their loved one.

Much time during the Christmas season should certainly be spent focusing on charity. With God giving us such a precious gift – His only son – we would all do well to imitate His generosity by giving to those around us. But shouldn’t we save all of that for the Christmas season? While charity is the greatest of the theological virtues, and should be practiced abundantly regardless of season, I think many of us confuse charity with frivolous shopping.

Besides, this is Advent, a season for joyful preparation. Advent is all about the coming of Our Lord. While it is a penitential season – we can do much to prepare ourselves for this great gift – it is also a season for joy.

Liturgically, the four-week season of Advent is divided into two halves. The first two weeks are focused on the Parousia – the second coming of Christ. The readings during Mass guide us to meditate on the last things (eschatology) – death, judgment, heaven, and hell – occurring during the end times.

The final two weeks of Advent are centered around the first coming of Christ – the Incarnation. The readings at Mass help us to direct our attention toward the mystery of God becoming man. We would do well to seize this opportunity to reflect on the fact that the Incarnation was done for us, to repair the damage done to humanity by original sin. We can also take the time during Advent to engage in penance that is intended to help us repair the damage that we have done because of our own sin.

Christmas is a wonderful season, but we must not be so eager for the Nativity of Our Lord that we completely overlook the mystery of the Incarnation – the Word becoming Flesh. Let us spend this season in joyful preparation for His coming. There is plenty of time later for cookies and carols.