First Sunday of Advent- Father Kevin Louis's Bulletin Column - December 3, 2006
Happy New Year! Yes, I can read a calendar and do realize that it is not yet the first of January. And no, I have not taken complete leave of my senses! In fact, this First Sunday of Advent is the first day of the Church’s new year of faith. So a “happy new year” is indeed in order!
The new Church year begins with the Season of Advent. In the pagan world of the ancient Greeks and Romans, epiphaneia (the Greek word from which we get our English “epiphany”) or adventus (the Latin word from which we get our English “advent”) meant “coming.” These terms were used to refer to the annual coming of gods into their temples to visit their devotees. In the court of the Roman Emperors these words also signified the first official visit of the Emperor (or other important officeholder) to a city. Our ancestors in the faith – the first Christians – transformed the usage and meaning of these terms applying them to Jesus Christ. Thus, in a twofold sense they spoke of Christ’s epiphany or advent: (1) His coming among us as a man sharing fully our human nature being born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and (2) His coming and manifestation in glory – He who is Lord and Savior – as judge of the living and the dead at the end of time. The Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer for today’s Mass of the First Sunday of Advent reflects this ancient theology.
Developing from this double understanding of the coming of Christ, the word “advent” eventually came to be applied to the liturgical season of preparation at the head of the Church’s year. Thus, the Season of Advent is a time for our preparation (1) for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), and (2) to meet the Lord upon His coming in glory.
Our Advent is the season of the coming of Christ. At the time of the Birth of Jesus of Nazareth and during the course of His earthly life, how many people saw Him with their eyes but did not see Him for who He is – truly God and truly man? And how many people were not even watching for the Savior and missed Him altogether? Christ will come again in glory at a time known only to the Father. Both Jesus Himself in today’s Gospel (Luke 21:25-36) and Saint Paul in his Letter to the Thessalonians (3:12-4:2) exhort us to “beware” and “be vigilant” lest this Day of the Lord “catch (us) by surprise like a trap.” In an extended sense, Christ already comes to us each and every day. Yet, like the people at the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we do not always perceive Him in the persons and events of the drama of our lives. And how many people in our day are not even looking for Him?
In this Season of Advent, let us beg the Lord to sharpen our sense of faith, our ability to perceive His coming in our midst, our preparedness for His glorious return. And let us ask Christ to remove any obstacles we may have erected in our lives and that may prevent us from perceiving His presence or make us unready for whenever He calls us to Himself. These may be accomplished this Advent (1) by our life of prayer allowing God to draw us closer to Himself, coming to know Him as one knows a friend and confidant; (2) by our frequent and worthy reception of the sacraments, especially Penance (Confession) and the Holy Eucharist; (3) by living an upright life according to the Commandments as we beg the Lord to “strengthen our will for doing good” (Collect, First Sunday of Advent); and, finally, (4) by living faithfully our vocation – to the dedicated single life, the priesthood, the consecrated religious life, or the married life.
This Friday, December 8, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, a holy day of obligation for us to assist at Mass. Please note the Mass times listed elsewhere in the bulletin. “Father, you prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of your Son. You let her share beforehand in the salvation Christ would bring by His death, and kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception. Help us by her prayers to live in your presence without sin” (Collect, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception).
Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!