Camel skin wearing, locust eating man in the desert.

Today's gospel reading we hear from John himself.  Read it here.

This weekend has been such an interesting one. We have been dealing with the snow and had an unexpected long weekend because of the snow day on Friday.  After having Thanksgiving week off last week and this "short" week. We have been seeing a lot of each other around here.  This stretch from Thanksgiving to New Years has helped me to really see how blessed I am to have the job I have. I continue to see how spending more and more time with my boys is a blessing I can't afford to take for granted.

After Thanksgiving I decided to completely cut out facebook and twitter from my life. At least through Advent. I felt like I needed this month to prepare "with joyful anticipation" for the coming of our Lord. I have promised to say a prayer for God to give me opportunities to be a better mother every-time I get the urge to use social media.  So far I have been able to stay away. It hasn't been easy.

Initially I don't think I had a full understanding as to why it was important for me to take this Advent for preparation.  After this week's reading and hearing the homily from Father Don at Mass today I feel as if I have some what of a better understanding.  Father Don made it clear to us that there are often times things that make it hard for us to prepare for Christ in our heart - and this is even more true during Advent. Pride, convenience and the distractions that come from comparing ourselves all too easily pull us away from our focus.  This includes participating in the sacraments. In particular reconciliation. God will never tire of forgiving us - we need to have the fortitude and endurance to continually do better and continue to ask for forgiveness.

As a side note, this weekend started with an abrupt and raw reality as to how "unfair" our world can be. When the innocent and most vulnerable in our society are neglected and exploited it is easy to become angry and saddened but without action we are doing nothing to improve their reality. Over the last four days I have witnessed a generosity like none other in my lifetime. Prayers, thoughts and concern for a child that has no connection to these families. And then a blessing, a reminder "God is good". YES HE IS.