“At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God's own love and concern” (St Teresa of Calcutta).

Advent 2021: Responding to God’s Call and Growing in Community

This Advent, our leadership and writing teams are reflecting on the Visitation—Mary’s visit to St. Elizabeth while they were pregnant with Jesus and St. John the Baptist. Click here to read more.

Over the past couple of years, I have learned to celebrate Advent by making small adjustments to focus on the “reason for the season.” Scaling back on distractions is harder this year, as holiday events have mostly made a comeback. Furthermore, work never quits. This year, my job is extra busy, because I am preparing for maternity leave in mid-January.

What Would Mary Do?

Though by no stretch of the imagination do I compare myself with Mary, the mother of Jesus, I can’t help but wonder how she felt leading up to the birth of Christ. Was she focused on her to-do list or things that were out of her control? I think she probably wasn’t, due to her reliance on God for all of her needs, including the ones regarding her pregnancy and childbirth.

As I look into my month ahead, I’m trying my best to have a “What would Mary do?” mindset. Sometimes, this framework seems so far away from my reality, but sometimes, it feels attainable. I love this quote from Henri Nouwen: "The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord."

A Continuous Preparation

What does recognizing the coming of the Lord mean to you at home and in your workplace this year? Leaning into the humility of the fact that we should always be preparing our hearts for Him, we can engage with this busy liturgical season with reverence. For me, this reverence means taking some time in solitude to reorient my attitude and perspective, considering all the balls I have up in the air.

Some strategies that have helped me find solitude in the past few years have included spiritual reading, adoration, limiting social media, and even saying “no” to some events that would have left me without time to curate my prayer life, interiorly and with my family. Advent is a time or preparation for Jesus. Let us pursue this liturgical season with an orientation toward peace.

Molly Franzonello is a wife and health care systems innovator in Washington, D.C. When not driving all over the metropolitan area to see “her people,” you can find her reading, writing, podcasting, or staycationing at her favorite spots in the District.