Advent is about hope in the future. Science shows that hope can heal. Hope releases endorphins that can relieve pain. Hope eases stress. And hope increases longevity...And we hope for a glorious future! That's what Christianity is all about: a glorious future.
We pray during the Advent season: Come, Lord Jesus. Transfigure us and re-create this universe into a “new heaven and a new earth.”
Some families create an Advent wreath with four candles and pray for the coming anew of the Messiah into their lives. Others make a Jesse or genealogy tree to trace the history of our salvation in the Bible. A Nativity scene invites family members to take turns telling the meaning of Christmas or God-with-us, Emmanuel. These are but a few traditions that can help us keep alive the meaning of Advent as the prelude to Christmas.
On the first Sunday of Advent, the Gospel according to Mark challenges us to always be alert and watchful for the Lord’s coming. Yes, always live a life worthy of our calling as sons and daughters of God our Father.
The Advent season is about waiting. In scripture, the Hebrews often waited for the Messiah to rescue them from hardships, from the follies of their kings, from their exile. We, too, often pray to God to rescue us from a crisis, to make things right for us. And yet God can seem silent, hidden. But is that so?
We profess that God is indeed in our midst. Not in a manger. That was centuries ago. But where is God now? All around us! In nature, in a sunrise and a sunset, a landscape and a waterscape, in people and in our beloved pets. God is with us, as we ache with growing pains and groan in prayer. He is especially with us at mass within the Word proclaimed and the Eucharist celebrated where we mystically encounter the living Christ.
Saint Paul wrote that God’s favor, God’s grace has been revealed to us in Jesus. And so, we wait and sing, “O Come, Emmanuel,” God with us. God transformed Jesus into a new heavenly reality and one day He will transform us as well, but until then we are called to continue the saving work of Jesus Christ.
Let us pray as we begin this Advent season that the Spirit of God, who overshadowed the Virgin Mary and brought forth the Word made flesh, will reenergize us to become better instruments of faith in God, of hope in eternal life, and of love of one another. Let us ask for the grace to become better channels of forgiveness and compassion, and better companions in service to one another until Jesus Christ comes again in glory at the end-time.Amen
