Advent

Advent is a time of waiting and hoping, of renewing our trust in God’s merciful love and care, and of reflecting on the several comings (advents) of Christ in our lives. Besides his first coming at his birth we are asked to reflect on Christ’s coming as the risen Lord at Easter, in the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), in our everyday lives, at the moment of death, (the third coming/middle coming) and at the end of human history (the second coming).

The Church invites us to join a pilgrimage of faith by showing us a prophetic vision of Christ’s first coming through the prophecy of Jeremiah, his glorious Second Coming through the gospel selection from Luke, and his daily coming into our lives here and now through the second reading (third coming).

She also reminds us that these are days of "joyful and prayerful anticipation of Jesus’ coming” because the Advent Season is intended to fill us with great expectations of the comings of the Messiah just as parents expectantly wait for the birth of their child, and make preparations for receiving the child into their family. We know that all valuable things in life – a healthy child, a loving marriage relationship, a work of art, a scientific discovery – need a period of quiet incubation.

To help us keep alive the freshness of Advent, we offer An Advent Examination (Edward Hays, A Pilgrim’s Almanac, p. 196): "Advent is the perfect time to clear and prepare the Way. By reflection and prayer, by reading and meditation, we can make our hearts a place where a blessing of peace would desire to abide and where the birth of the Prince of Peace might take place. Daily we can make an Advent Examination. Are there any feelings of discrimination toward race, sex, or religion? Is there a lingering resentment, an unforgiving injury living in our hearts? Do we look down upon others of lesser social standing or educational achievement? Are we generous with the gifts that have been given to us, seeing ourselves as their stewards and not their owners? Are we reverent of others, their ideas and needs, and of creation? These and other questions become Advent lights by which we may search the deep, dark corners of our hearts.

May this Advent season be a time for bringing hope, transformation, and fulfillment into the Advent of our lives.”