Question: With Christmas fast approaching, can you give me some practical tips to prepare myself and my family that will help us stay grounded in what this holiday is really about? With all the commercialism, it’s easy to stray.

Answer: Happy times and events bring fond memories and a renewed sense of love and kinship with others. The anticipation is half the joy of the event itself. The coming of the Lord is that kind of event that people have been looking forward to for generations with fervent hope and desire. It gave them strength and courage as they waited for the coming of the Lord.

We know that Christmas is rushed. Sales begin in August, and carols blare long before the season begins. Everyone laments the commercial aspects of the season. But as Advent begins, do something to help you be more mindful of the Lord’s coming. Use an Advent wreath, enthrone the Bible prominently, read the readings from the Bible assigned to each day. Postpone the tree and decorations until closer to Christmas. Establish new family rituals, customs, and prayers that help remind everyone we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Fasting, attending daily Mass or a special celebration of reconciliation, reaching out to those alienated from family or society, and visiting the home bound manifest the love of the Christ Child and the Holy Family. Resist the temptation to rush the season. In His own time and in His own way,  God will come. Our task is simply to be watchful and ready.