First Sunday of Advent!

Blessings to you on this First Sunday of Advent and all through this marvelous season of hope and expectation! These three and a half weeks invite us to reflect deeply on the unfolding of God’s plan that ultimately led to the “advent” (the arrival, the coming) of Jesus. That is God’s plan for you and me, for our redemption, for our ultimate fulfillment.

Advent is like a symphony with multiple movements. We reflect upon and celebrate the past coming of Christ, born among us in Bethlehem so many centuries ago. We reflect not only on that mysterious, magnificent moment of Christ’s birth, but also on the centuries of preparation for the coming, culminating in Mary’s “fiat” (her “yes”) to the Angel Gabriel accepting her vocation to be the Mother of God. But Advent is not simply about the past; this season moves us as well to the future, the “advent” that lies ahead when Christ will return in glory with the fullness of salvation. That first coming inaugurated a new age directed toward this ultimate fulfillment of the second coming. The first “advent” only reaches its completion with this “advent to come.”

Yet while Advent symphony has us look both to the past and the future, it also moves us to recognize the sacredness of the present moment. “Now is the acceptable time, now is the age of salvation” as St. Paul tells us (2 Corinthians 6:2). “The Reign of God is at hand” as both John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-3) and Jesus tell us (Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:17). And so, Advent is a time of wonder, of gratitude, and of anticipation. It is a sacred time in which we are called to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3). Christ comes to us each and every day.

Traditionally, the weeks of Advent have a special focus. The first week of Advent emphasizes hope (the other three weeks emphasize peace, joy and love). This focus on hope is particularly relevant this year as we will enter a Holy Year with the theme Pilgrims of Hope. Below is a prayer for hope that is designed to be used in personal or family prayer throughout the first week of Advent as you light the first candle of your Avent wreaths:

    --Today we light the first candle of Advent, the candle of Hope [light candle]. We put our hope in the one to come, the promised one who comes from God to bring good news of salvation. We hope in the one who will lead us to walk in the light of the Lord. We hope he will not let us live in dark valleys, but on the high mountain of God. We light this candle in Hope. On this day, we remember to hopefully look for the coming of Christ. (from Liturgy Link)--

Advent also begins the Church’s new liturgical year. This year we will use the Cycle C readings of the Lectionary, and most of those readings will be taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke. Let me suggest that during this season of Advent, you make it a point to read the entire Gospel of Luke. You might aim to do a chapter a day, which will allow you to complete the twenty-four chapters during Advent. Luke’s is a gospel of hope and joy, a gospel that emphasizes the compassion of our God, and especially God’s tender loving care for the poor and lowly. Prayerful reflection on Luke’s Gospel will definitely nourish your spirits.

Jesus, the long-awaited Emmanuel, may we take advantage of these days of Advent and prepare your way in our hearts. Holy Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, may we live as you lived, with a heart open to God’s grace and a willing ness to put yourself at God’s service.

​Father Craig