First Sunday of Advent

The first Sunday of Advent begins tomorrow.  I found the following words encouraging in regard to preparing and celebrating this advent season 2009.

Advent…… helps us to understand the fullness of the value and meaning and mystery of  Christmas.  It is not just about commemorating the historical event, which occurred some 2,000 years ago in a little village of Judea.  Instead, we must understand that our whole life should be an “advent.” in vigilant expectation of Christ’s final coming. To prepare our hearts to welcome the Lord, who, as we say in, the Creed, will come one day to judge the living, and the dead, we must learn to recognize his presence in the events of daily life.  Advent is then, a period of intense training that directs us decisively to the One who has already come, who will come and who continuously comes.  — Pope John Paul II (POLAND/1920-2005)