Thanksgiving is now over and many have already started to move onto the Christmas season. In a world of Christmas trees, music, and lights we find a far different reality proclaimed to us within the Church. Here we find a somber tone for the church is not decorated with flowers nor trees, we make use of the liturgical color of violet which reminds us of the need to do penance, and our music reflects somber moderation for we do not yet sing Christmas carols and do not sing the Gloria until we see sing it anew with the angels who rejoice at the birth of a savior.
With the message that the world now proclaims it is so easy for us to loose sight of this o’ so important season within the life of the Church. Our readings do not tell us about mistletoe and holly, but the need to be watchful and alert. This season is about two things: it is about preparation for the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas as well as His second coming at the end of time. It is towards both of these realities that we must now remain watchful and alert for we must make straight the way of our life towards our encounter with the Lord.
Despite this need to be watchful and alert for our encounter with the Lord it should be no secret that we do not like to wait. We instead want everything without delay. So often this attitude is reflected by many throughout the Advent season for they push it to the side in order to celebrate Christmas without first preparing for it. We must Remember that the people of Israel waited generations for the coming of the Messiah. Despite having to wait they longed for the reality of the Lord’s coming to which Saint John the Baptist foretold: “Behold the Lamb of God.” We too must allow this great anticipation to give rise within us as we prepare to behold such a wondrous gift.
As the Catechism attests concerning this great season: “When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease."
Therefore, I invite each you to enter fully into this season that has been set before us. Please do not let it rush by as if it were just another day among days. Rather, this season serves as an important opportunity to prepare for the Lord’s coming in order that room may be found within the inn for Him to come and dwell with us. I implore you to use this season to dare to enter into silence, to begin to pray more fervently, to study and pray with Sacred Scripture, and to enter fully into the sacramental life of the Church. To practice these four steps will aid you in remaining watchful and alert for the Lord’s coming.
May we all have a fruitful Advent season. May we realize its importance for we truly need to “behold the Lamb of God” by how we come to order our life on this earth towards Him. Remaining watchful and alert during this sacred season assists us in undergoing this conversion for the sake of the Kingdom and letting go of that which detracts us from Christ in order that we may allow Him to increase within us. Let this season be a time of hope for we now prepare for our encounter with the Word made Flesh who is Christ our Lord. He who is present with us in the Most Holy Eucharist. May we always prepare our heart and soul to encounter Him.
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