Last Sunday was the First Sunday of the new Church year, Advent. As I have mentioned in the preceding weeks we are going to “journey” together, drawing closer to our Lord through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I want to recap some things I said in last Sunday’s homily about preparation. Advent season is a season of preparation, preparing for the coming of the Lord as remembered at Christmas and our personal preparation for when He comes again, either due to our personal death or His second coming at the end of the age. So here is a question concerning Mass. Are you preparing to meet the Lord in the Mass? How would I do that you might ask. What are you thinking about when you come to Mass? Are you arriving early enough to get “recollected”? Focused? Do you have a proper intention for your presence at Mass? Do you need to go to Confession? Have you come to say thank you, to praise and worship God? These small observances can make a huge difference in your spiritual life. They prepare us to listen more closely to the audible words we read and hear and also to the quiet, gentle nudges of the Holy Spirit. If you are not preparing, I challenge you to commit to it before your next Mass. It will make a difference! Yours in Christ our Lord, Fr. Sid.