Have you ever noticed a similarity between Thanksgiving and Advent; if not, then please note the sad and disturbing parallel evidenced in these two great events?

In preparation for Thanksgiving, the farmer stuffs his flock of turkeys with the most fattening feed, so that they will gain weight; then the cooks meticulously stuff them with well seasoned dressing so they will be tantalizing to all who gather to celebrate, and those who partake, stuff themselves. Thanksgiving seems to be a time for stuffing; not only the turkey but ourselves as well; still many neglect to take time to thank God by gathering for the celebration of Mass, or by some special time in prayer that day.

Now for a quick look at Advent. In the weeks preceding Christmas, many people begin to stuff each day with an overwhelming amount of things to be done; just like stuffing the turkey. With all the shopping, wrapping of presents, baking, sending Christmas cards, decorating, and traveling to be with family, our days are so stuffed that we neglect to take time to meditate on the true meaning and purpose of Advent; preparation for the coming of Jesus; both in this life and at the close of our earthly life.

Our scriptures for the first Sunday of Advent reminded us to "stay awake"; be "watchful" for we know not the day he will come.

When I was a child, we used to sing a Christmas song — "O, you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why; Santa Claus is coming to town. He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake."

As I look back and recall my childhood, I realize that the message of that simple song had a positive effect; it motivated us to try to be good. Do the words of the Gospel for the first Sunday of Advent, have as much effect?

The time of preparation for the coming of Santa was short lived, and once Christmas was past we all too quickly returned to our regular way of acting. Our preparation for that personal and lasting coming of Christ; the real purpose of Advent, is an ongoing process of being watchful throughout the year, and all our life.

When we are more watchful for the coming of Santa; more concerned about material gifts, than we are for the coming of Jesus, then we need to recall his sobering warning — "What does it profit one to gain the whole world and forfeit their soul?"

No reasoning person would go to all the expense of buying, stuffing and baking a turkey for Thanksgiving, only to throw away the turkey and keep the stuffing. In like manner, no mature Christian; true believer in Jesus, would be so foolish as to expend exorbitant amounts of time and money for passing material things, and forget the true meaning of Christmas; God giving his beloved Son to us in the hopes that we would reciprocate with our lives and love.

We still have a few weeks to "wake up" and prepare for a prayerful, grace-filled Christmas, when once again the love of God, in the person of Jesus, will seek a place in our souls to ignite the fire of faith. So be watchful! Be ready to welcome him!

O, you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why; Jesus is coming. He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.

Be careful! Do not let the devil ruin your Advent by enticing you to "stuff" your days with the fickle enticements of the world. Keep in mind the reason for the season; the coming of Jesus into our personal lives; to prepare us to share eternal life.