As we begin Advent today I recall the Advent seasons of the past. My recollection of them is that they always seemed to heighten my spiritual awareness during the time of year when we were all supposed to be getting the seasonal spirit anyhow.
I remember during the years before I became Catholic that family members would ask, "Do you have the Christmas spirit yet?" Often I didn't get the Christmas spirit even up until a day or two before Christmas Day, sometimes not even then.
What was missing of course was the season of preparation. It can be a little difficult to have holiday cheer when your entire focus is on the busyness of the season and the material aspects of it. To make it into something more meaningful we have to recognize a special invitation that all of us have received, and all of us should be prepared to make a special invitation of our own.
The prophets told of a coming day when the mountain of the Lord's house was to be established on the earth. They spoke words full of expectation, full of hope, and full of anticipation for the coming of God's just judgments among the nations.
The people heard the words of the prophets and received them as a sacred invitation. They looked and waited, not knowing exactly what to expect—yet they waited with the same expectation and hope of fulfillment as they heard in the voice of the prophets.
We begin the liturgical season hearing an ancient prophecy that foretells an advent: it tells of the coming of a kingdom like nothing else before. Isaiah's prophecy prepares the people for a time to come when all the earth will look to the tribe of Judah and to Jerusalem; moreover, his prophecy invites the people to come forth to the mountain of the Lord: to come and to receive instruction, peace, salvation and justice.
Likewise in our readings for the first Sunday of Advent we too receive the summons to begin our season of preparation.
In many ways the invitation to come to the mountain of the Lord, is one that goes beyond our seasonal observances. The prophetic words of scripture point us to yet another coming of the kingdom. The New Testament expectation of the Second Coming urges us not only to wait and be vigilant but to go forward transformed by the reality and power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, tells us that the night is far spent and the day is close at hand. We are to live as children of the light, and "throw off," he tells us, "the works of darkness." It is no coincidence that the readings convey the message of right judgment or justice.
Our Advent invitation, far from being an invitation to mere passive waiting, is to go forth rejoicing to the house of the Lord and to work actively in bringing about the peace that we proclaim and celebrate in song each year during the Christmas season. Undoubtedly, the message pertains to everyone, and therefore, it's a communal message; however, each of us receives a personal forewarning.
Each individual person shares responsibility, for himself or herself and for the world, as much as the whole altogether bears responsibility. What happens in our world today begins with us individually. As individuals we hold in our hearts the sense of anticipation and expectation that leads us to live watchful lives that are always ready for that moment that no one can predict, the hour when the Son of Man will appear. As individuals we learn to share our anticipation of the kingdom to come with others, and thus we restore its communal dimension.
Through the years I have found Advent to be one my greatest joys. In anticipating the coming of Jesus the human heart cannot help but be transformed in some way. The season offers us a perfect opportunity to reflect on our personal readiness as well as giving us a chance to consider our role in bringing about the Kingdom of God. It is the season when we invite God into our hearts, when we say "Come Lord Jesus."
The God of peace, the God of the kingdom to be, is able to prepare our hearts. He is able to enlighten our souls and make us ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ— both in his infancy at Bethlehem and in his everlasting glory.
Beautiful :-)
"..In anticipating the coming of Jesus the human heart cannot help but be transformed in some way. The season offers us a perfect opportunity to reflect on our personal readiness as well as giving us a chance to consider our role in bringing about the Kingdom of God..."
Amen, amen. Happy Advent.
Posted by: Carol | December 02, 2007 at 11:54 AM
A beautiful homily, dd. I've learned more about the meaning and the themes of Advent in the last year-and-a-half since I've been blogging than I ever knew all my life. (Thanks to great posts like this one).
Posted by: Gabrielle | December 02, 2007 at 09:00 PM