We hear it every year: Advent is a time of waiting and preparation. As a Christian living amidst the influences of the secular world, I take this to mean deliberately postponing Christmas celebrations while reflecting on the darkness our ancestors endured as they awaited the Saviour. I strive to pray more and contemplate ways to ready my heart, not only for the Feast of Christmas but also for the Second Coming of Christ—or my own death—whichever comes first.
Rooted in this deliberate, contemplative approach to Advent, I found inspiration in a recently recorded discussion between Bishop Robert Barron and Father Mike Schmitz, entitled Face-to-Face with Jesus. In their talk, they discussed preparing to meet Christ in a “happy death” by engaging in prayer and the sacraments.
On the topic of prayer, Father Mike explained that prayer is a personal conversation with God and highlighted the difference between “saying” prayers and truly “praying.” He shared how memorized prayers and the Word of God eventually became part of him, enabling him to offer these words back to God.
Father Mike also emphasized that we must prioritize prayer, fitting our lives around it rather than squeezing it into our schedules. Bishop Barron agreed, stating, “Your life is friendship with the Lord, and the rest follows.” He added that dedicating time to this friendship through prayer, though initially a discipline, eventually becomes a joy.
The conversation then moved to the subject of confession. Bishop Barron acknowledged that many find confession uncomfortable. His response? “That’s good.” He admitted he has never found confession easy, explaining that the word contrition means “crushed,” as we are crushed by sin. In admitting our sins to Christ through his representative, the priest, we face humiliation—a discomfort that is integral to the sacrament.
Bishop Barron cautioned against making confession “as easy as possible” because the power of the sacrament lies in acknowledging our darkness and our need for God to find the light. Even children can understand the necessity of God’s mercy to overcome failings and the relief of cleansing one’s conscience and soul through a good confession.
Father Mike added, “You are letting Jesus do what he wants to do” when you enter confession: forgiving sins. Jesus came at the first Christmas to meet us where we are, to remove sin from the world, and to lead us home. Emmanuel—God with us—remains with us through the sacraments, which prepare us for heaven.
“All of the sacraments are preparing you for fullness of life in the higher order,” Bishop Barron explained. We need prayer to know God, reconciliation to overcome sin and improve our lives, and the Eucharist as “food for [our] soul,” nourishing the deeper and higher dimensions of our lives. Each of these is essential as we prepare for our inevitable face-to-face meeting with God.
During Advent, it’s natural to focus on the birth of Christ and the joy it brings—and so we should. Yet, we must also accept the reality that to truly receive the gift of Christmas and eternal life through Jesus, we must make room for him in our hearts.
With this in mind, Bishop Barron and Father Mike returned to the importance of prayer and receiving God like a child. They shared that they continue to pray the words many of us learned as children:
“Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep;
For if I die before I wake,
I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take. Amen.”
Bishop Barron reflected, “It’s a child’s prayer, but I wouldn’t improve on it.”
Let us all pray these simple yet powerful words as we cultivate our faith and prepare to meet God face-to-face, whenever our time comes.
Blessed Advent.
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