Happy new year! Today we celebrate the first day of the new Church year and of Advent. Today, in a spiritual sense, we conceive new life and prepare to give birth to that life in the Christmas season. Advent is similar to pregnancy, in that we carry, protect, and nurture Christ's new life within us. We must take care not to do anything which might hurt the baby. Therefore, the Church warns us: "Be on guard lest your spirits become bloated with indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares" (Lk 21:34). Just as a mother's smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs can have bad effects on her baby, so our sinful preoccupation with "worldly cares" can damage or even abort the new life of Advent.

We should begin this year and this spiritual pregnancy by going to Confession. By repenting, we remove things which stifle the growth of God's life within us. We should also simplify our lives, freeing up more time to pray, read God's word, evangelize, and share fellowship. We should be nourished and rested in our pregnancy. TV, videos, and compulsive activities could very well smother our new life in God. Advent, like pregnancy, is a wonderful time as long as we carefully protect and nourish the new life within us.

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 3, 2009

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