Diocese of KalamazooThe Good News
Consider it all Joy
by Bishop James A. Murray

Throughout our lives we wait for many things. Patients wait anxiously for test results. The bright-eyed toddler waits for Santa to come on Christmas Eve. Driven parents wait in line at 5 a.m. early bird sales to buy the perfect gift at the perfect price.

I’ve even read that the average adult American will spend five years of his/her lifetime waiting in line — at the post office, the grocery store, the doctor’s office. Just waiting. Anticipating.

Soon in the Church we will begin a different kind of waiting. December 2nd marks the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new liturgical year for the Church and our own season of waiting, anticipating and preparing our hearts for Christ’s coming — both His first coming and His second coming. Many times during the frenzied holiday season we may be tempted to focus all our energy on what we see as the prize — Christmas. If we do so, however, we will miss the richness of the Advent season and its affirmation of our core Catholic beliefs. Beyond the wrappings and trappings of holiday parties, shopping and decorating we have an opportunity to focus ourselves on the true meaning of Advent.

So what is the true focus of Advent? The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming.” We think immediately of Advent as the anticipation of the coming of Jesus as an infant born to a Holy Virgin. However, close attention to the season’s liturgies reveals that Advent also is a time of preparation for Christ’s second coming.

Consider these words by Pope John Paul II spoken during a general papal address during Advent 2002:
“The liturgy of Advent, filled with constant allusions to the joyful expectation of the  Messiah, helps us to understand the fullness of the value and meaning of the mystery of Christmas. It is not just about commemorating the historical event, which occurred some 2,000 years ago in a little village of Judea. Instead, we must understand that our whole life should be an “advent” in vigilant expectation of Christ’s final coming. To prepare our hearts to welcome the Lord who, as we say in the Creed, will come one day to judge the living and the dead, we must learn to recognize His presence in the events of daily life. Advent is then a period of intense training that directs us decisively to the One who has already come, who will come and who continuously comes.”

“A period of intense training” as Pope John Paul II mentions does not mean building up stamina to withstand the long lines at the shopping malls but to immerse yourself in the preparation of the season through prayer, reflection, scripture reading and focusing on meaningful customs such as lighting the Advent wreath and participating in acts of    service.

During this year’s Advent season I invite you to focus on the three “comings”: Christ’s incarnation 2,000 years ago; Christ’s continued presence in our lives today; and Christ’s anticipated glorious return in the future.

Each of these “comings” is reinforced by Advent’s liturgy. During the four weeks of Advent the Old Testament readings from Isaiah will remind us of the history of God’s people and help us reflect on how the prophecies and promises were fulfilled. The second readings from Romans and James will underscore the salvation message of Christ’s second coming — the very foundation of Christianity. The Gospel readings from Matthew will account the Nativity story but also bring us the words of salvation as spoken by John the Baptist who says “Reform your lives! The reign of God is at hand.”

The Advent season presents us a fresh opportunity to look at our lives and deepen our relationship with the Lord Jesus who has come already in humility and will come again in glory.

May your Advent season this year allow for time of reflection and for meaningful preparation. Even while you’re waiting in line may you truly recall what it is indeed you are anticipating.