Today we celebrate the 1st Sunday of Advent. The name Advent comes from the Latin word, advenire, which means, to come to.” During this season we prepare for the coming of Christ. We must remember that Christ continues to come among us in the Most Holy Eucharist. On December 25th we will celebrate the birth of Christ who comes among us as the Word made Flesh. Finally, we cannot forget that the Lord will come again at the end of time.
We should approach this season with great attention for this season is important in aiding us at being found watchful and alert for this coming. During these weeks which lay ahead the world begins to act as if Christmas has already arrived, but the Church calls us to be vigilant. Through our vigilance we are found prepared for the return of the lord of the house. If we are not vigilant and do not take this season seriously we will continue to encounter Christ as if He is just the mundane.
There is nothing mundane about the Lord and thus we must stir ourself out of our slumber and prepare for His coming. If the gatekeeper fails to be alert he will not be able to allow the lord of the house in. Advent assists us in making those preparations in our life which assist us in our expectant anticipation. These preparations have nothing do with putting up Christmas trees, lights, and decorations. These preparations cause us to look inwardly and see what is off kilter in our life when it pertains to Christ.
There will come a time when we will encounter Him with joy. Today we will encounter Him with joy as we behold Him in the Most Holy Eucharist. On December 25th we will encounter Him with joy as the good news of His birth is spread throughout the world. Eventually we will encounter Him with joy when He comes again at the end of time at an unknown hour. For this encounter we must be found watchful and alert.
As we pass through this season let us reflect in our prayer on the ways that we have moved away from the Lord and thus fail to make room for Him to dwell within the inn of our heart. There are many things which we place great importance upon which push the Lord away for our midst for we have become too busy to encounter Him with joy. This season assists us in preparing the way for His coming among us in order that we may encounter Him which such joy.
If we are looking for ways to prepare for this encounter we must not forget the sacrament of confession. It is this sacrament which connects us to the Lord and His presence among us in the Most Holy Eucharist. So many forget this sacrament which goes hand in hand with our reception of Holy Communion. We cannot live our life exempt from God’s mercy. To do so would mean that we are not being vigilant for that unknown hour which awaits each of us. Let us remain watchful and alert for the Lord’s coming among us.
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