advent - st. als 2018

Advent is a season that helps and prepares us to celebrate the two comings of Jesus.  

The first coming is celebrated as a remembrance, a memorial of the past.  It has happened.  Jesus came to our world.  He was born, he lived among us, he died to save us, on the third day he rose from the dead to conquer death, and lastly, he ascended to the Father to sit on his right hand.  This is what advent prepares us for, to celebrate God’s incarnation, God becoming human in Jesus.

The second coming is no longer something we look back to but something we look forward to. It is not a commemoration but something we anticipate, something we eagerly await.  It is a looking forward to what we profess in the Creed: “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.”

The season of Advent thus is a season of devout and joyful expectation of the two comings of Jesus.  Do you remember the old memorial acclamation we used to sing in the mass?  “Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!”  The third acclamation “Christ will come again,” summarizes Advent: Jesus has come and will come again.

Many Christians since time immemorial are so concerned about the “when” of Jesus’ return.  Just recently there is even a concern about the real “when” of the first coming.  Was Jesus born December 25?

In reality the when is not the concern of our gospel and of Jesus for that matter.  It’s the “how”.  How do I live my life now in such a way that I will be ready to welcome Christ?

In the four Sundays of Advent leading to Christmas 3 persons will prepare us – for the first Sunday Jesus himself will prepare us; then on the second and third Sunday, John the Baptist; and on the fourth Sunday, our Blessed Mother too.

Remember:  it’s not the “when” but the “how”. 

(The last time I read the gospels, shopping was not high on the list of the how.  I don’t think it was even there!)

There is no shortcut to Christmas.  It is always through the way of Advent.  Don’t miss it.  

Probably this short prayer will help.

Dear Jesus, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what’s really important. We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas and meet you when at last you will come again. Amen.(cf. Dynamic Catholic)