We now enter into the Second Week of Advent. Our theme for the Mass this week is, “Come Before your God in Thanksgiving.”  We have much to be thankful for including our faithful and loving community.

In this week’s Gospel, John the Baptist proclaims, “Prepare the Way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”  It may be a good question to ask if we are taking the time to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ coming.

We recently celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday which usually reminds us of all that we should be thankful for.  Advent is a time to recognize the gifts God has given us and the immeasurable gift of salvation.  How can we respond to these gifts?  One way is to embrace what we have been given.  Embracing our salvation encourages us to travel with Jesus on the paths that have been made straight by Him in our hearts.

If we turn to Jesus with a humble and contrite heart and ask Him to take us with Him, He will indeed, take us.  The Mass offers us a way to travel with Jesus.  Human Life International, a prominent Catholic organization suggests we pray the following prayer before Mass:

E TERNAL FATHER, WE HUMBLY OFFER THEE OUR POOR PRESENCE, AND THAT OF THE WHOLE OF HUMANITY,

FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END OF THE WORLD AT ALL THE MASSES THAT EVER HAVE OR EVER WILL BE OFFERED.

WE OFFER THEE ALL THE PAINS, SUFFERINGS, PRAYERS, SACRIFICES, JOYS, AND RELAXATIONS OF OUR LIVES, IN UNION WITH THOSE OF OUR LORD JESUS HERE ON EARTH.

MAY THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, ALL HIS BLOOD, WOUNDS, AND AGONY SAVE US, THROUGH THE SORROWFUL AND IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY. AMEN.

As we reflect on this prayer, we are invited to embrace the Mass in a spirit of Thanksgiving as we continue on our Advent Journey of Faith.