Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex

Well, no I am not really all that early with this post as it might at first seem; though it might be better to have waited until after Thanksgiving. However, we are travelling to Dayton for Turkey day. Actually we are leaving as soon as I get off work at noon. I am not sure if I will get to a computer for the next few days so I thought I would provide the text of an Advent reflection for the first Sunday (yeah…it is here already). Here is one for this year by Msgr. Stuart Swetland:

The First Sunday of Advent, November 27

Isaiah 63:16-17, 19; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37

Happy New Year! For Catholics, the new liturgical year begins this weekend with the First Sunday of Advent. How appropriate that our New Year begins with the Lord’s call from the Gospel of Mark: “Be watchful! Be Alert!” (Mk 13:33).

For what are we to be watchful? While we are called to be alert for many things, most importantly we are called to be watchful for the coming of the Lord. The term “advent” comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming.” Although we are always to be ready and alert, in a particular way the season of Advent reminds us to be watchful for the coming of the Lord.

How does the Lord come to us? Of course most of us immediately think of the coming of the Lord in history as the Babe in Bethlehem. Here, God fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah when he “rent the heavens and came down” becoming Incarnate in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Christmas is the season where we celebrate this first “coming of the Lord.” Advent helps prepare us for this celebration.

But Advent, especially in the earlier part of the season, also looks forward to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time. In the first coming of Jesus, He entered our history in humility and weakness in order to establish the Kingdom. In the Second Coming, He will come in power and glory to end history and usher in the completion of the Kingdom. As Christians, we express the hope of the New Heaven and New Earth when we pray “Maranatha–Come, Lord Jesus!” (1 Cor 16:22).

However, Advent does not just look forward to Jesus’ Second Coming or backward to remember His first coming as Man. It is also a season that asks God to come here and now. “Rouse Your power and come to save us” (Psalm 80:2). Advent is, as well, a season where we prepare for the Lord’s coming in grace to each of us in this present moment. The goal of Advent is that each of us, and all of us as a Church, will be closer to the Lord at this Christmas than we have ever been before.

Catholics ought not be surprised by the fact that Advent celebrates three “comings” of the Lord. For, in fact, all of our liturgical celebrations commemorate this. They remember a past event in the life of Christ, look forward to our completion in heaven with Him, and celebrate the coming of Christ in grace here and now. For example, in Mass we remember what Jesus did for us at the Last Supper and in His passion, death and resurrection; we look forward to perfect communion with Him in Heaven; and we celebrate His coming to us in grace and glory during the liturgy in Word and Sacrament. Our memorial acclamation also reflects this three-fold celebration: Christ has died (past), Christ is risen (present), Christ will come again (future).

The Advent season is a busy one for us all: presents to buy, trees to trim, cookies to bake, cards to send. But first and foremost, it is a season to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Mk 1:3). While wonderful gifts, a beautifully trimmed tree, perfectly baked cookies, or just the right card might be nice, it will truly have been a great Advent if we find that we can say we have indeed become closer to Christ than ever before. Then we really will have had a happy new year!