As Advent begins, the Church's eucharistic Scriptures invite us to come home. Isaiah exhorts us to come to God's house (Is 2:3, 5). Jesus prophesies that "many will come...and will find a place" in His kingdom (Mt 8:11). Jesus invites us to Himself, saying: "Come to Me" (Mt 11:28).

However, these voices aren't the only ones inviting us to come. Merchants relentlessly persuade us to come to their stores, visit Santa, and spend lots of money. Relatives, co-workers, and friends want us to come to "holiday" parties.

We can't please all these competing voices. If we don't make a determined choice to come to the Lord this Advent, then Satan will gladly utilize the hubbub of the worldly December to rob us of precious time each day. Continually saying "Yes" to the demands of the world means that we by default say "No" to Jesus (see Mt 6:24). Saying "Yes" to Jesus means that we will have to consciously say "No" to a number of worldly December events.

Turn off the voices on the TV and radio, and listen to God's voice in Scripture. Put Jesus at the top of your Christmas list. Each day of Advent, make it a priority to come to God's Christmas party, that is, Holy Mass, the banquet of the Lamb. Those who come to God's house "overcome the world" (see Jn 16:33). Come, let us go to the house of the Lord (Ps 122:1). "O come, let us adore Him."

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 30, 2007

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.