Today is the First Sunday of Advent and it brings us into a liturgical season in which we think about the coming of Christ, as well as the end times. This includes our final end as well. We need to die in a state of grace in order to get into Heaven. Nothing has changed, in this regard, during the last 2,000 years since Jesus founded the Catholic Church.
If we're in a state of mortal sin, we're not in a state of grace. The only sure means of having our souls wiped clean is with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Advent has traditionally been a penitential time. Many parishes are now scheduling extra confession times during the weeks leading up to Christmas. This is a very good thing.
If you haven't been to confession in a long time, there's no time like the present. God Bless and have a wonderful and joyous Christmas.
Flickr photo by odd harmonic
