This morning after mass, we headed to the St. Mary School gym. My wife bypassed the pastries and coffee and went straight to a table against the wall. She grabbed a base-like structure and started attaching pine branches and leaves to it. What was this strange activity she was doing?

Sidney made an Advent wreath this morning after mass at St. Mary Catholic Church (Spokane Valley).

Sidney was making an Advent wreath.

Beau stands next to our Advent wreath from last year.

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, a holy period prior to Christmas. Over the next four weeks, Christians around the world will prepare both for the historical/miraculous birth of Christ and his future return to earth for the final judgment.

During this time of the year, many of us (especially me) focus our attention on purchasing the perfect gifts for family and friends. Advent invites us to re-direct some of that focus to securing the perfect gift for Jesus.

We are now in Advent season.

As Fr. Joseph Mary from EWTN said in his homily this morning, that perfect gift is obvious: our hearts.

In order to adequately “gift” Jesus our hearts when Christmas arrives next month, we can do a couple things: First, we can clean our hearts. Eradicating sin is the best way to do this and that is why confession is so critical during Advent.

Next, we can warm our hearts. In the same way that Jesus’ birth brought warmth on a freezing cold Bethlehem night, our hearts can bring similar comfort. How can we warm our hearts? By sustained and meaningful prayer.

Sloan admiring our Advent wreath from 2021.

As I try to prepare my heart for presentation to the Lord in his manger, I am going to do my best to practice contrition and prayer over the next 25 days. Easier said than done—especially for a sinner like me.

Over these next four Sundays, we will light the Advent wreath that Sid so thoughtfully made this morning. As the candles glimmer, it will symbolize the light of Christ dispelling darkness. May this holy light of Jesus reveal pure hearts in us all. Don’t Blink.