When it’s time to do something new, something exciting,  or something challenging, I hear the words, “Let’s Gooooo!” in my head. I’ll even admit that I can sometimes be seen and heard shouting it out loud, raising my fist and waving my arm with maybe, just maybe, a little “Whoop, Whoop!” slipping out too. I think between my kids and Fr. Adam, it’s becoming my new catch phrase. I love the joy and anticipation demonstrated in this response. It shows a willingness to do the work required and a rejection of the fear that may want to keep us from moving forward.

As I prayed over the readings for the first Sunday of Advent, this phrase reverberated in my mind. St. Paul, in the letter to the Romans, says, “It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.” God is giving us our wake-up call and asking us to wipe the sleep from our eyes and focus on Him. That means no more laying around in the dark. The light is breaking through and it’s our time to rise. But, rise and do what? What does He want for us?

Isaiah describes all the nations streaming towards the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. Climbing the Lord’s mountain, they want to enter God’s house and allow Him to instruct them in His ways so they may walk in His paths. We are to wake up and go to Him, and when we get there, we are to learn. Where can you and I meet Him? In our church, in the Scriptures, in our Sacraments, and in our prayer. He is present and waiting for us to come to Him so that He can teach us and help us follow Him.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is calling us to be prepared for His coming. Are you seeing the pattern too? Maybe being awake is a good start to being prepared. Maybe spending time with the Lord and learning what He wants to teach us is a good idea if we want our hearts to be open and ready to receive Him. 

Preparation takes attention and effort. Advent is our time. Time to wake up. Time to go to the house of the Lord. Time to learn from Him. Time to prepare, for Jesus is coming. Let's not let this time slip away without doing what we can. Come on people... "Let's Gooooo!" 

Barbara Moore is a wife, mother of five, and now "Bella" to new grandson Sawyer. She has been a member of Holy Family for the past 26 years. She loves sharing the Catholic faith with others through teaching, writing, or just over a cup of coffee.