Advent

Advent marks the beginning of the Liturgical Year. As once again another year unfolds before us we will enter into the mysteries of our salvation as they are set before us one by one.
During these coming weeks we shall be preparing for the celebration of the solemnity of Christmas, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In order to help us prepare, the Church sets before us the passages of scripture from the Old Testament that prophesied the coming of the Messiah. This does not mean that we have to suspend our thought and listen to these texts as though the great event had not already taken place. We are the People of God, these prophecies are our history. Just as those who waited for the coming of Christ gave witness to their belief and hoped for his coming, so we too have a mission to fulfil which is expressed in these same texts.
We are waiting for Christ to come again in glory, as we proclaim in the Creed, we believe that he shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, we shall say in a few moments. Just as the People of Israel waited so too we are waiting. All of these texts especially from the Prophets which proclaim that the Lord will come, that in that day peace will reign from one end of the earth to the other, are all necessary to support us in our hope.
Advent turns our mind to the coming of Christ, not only at the end of time, but his coming into the hearts of each one us. As we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Christ, we make ourselves ready to receive him so that when he comes knocking at the inn of our hearts he will find a place.
Advent is the time of realism, it is the time to wake up, look about and take stock. The purple vestments of this season do not have the same symbolism as during Lent. Lent is a time of penance, Advent is the time of purification. Advent is the time to put aside all that blurs our vision and hinders our watchfulness.
Advent is the time to attend to what really matters. Unfortunately, for many, Advent is swallowed up in the concerns of the material side for the preparation for Christmas. Try not to get caught up in these things, keep your mind and heart fixed on Christ Jesus for whom we are waiting in joyful hope.

(Abbot Cuthbert Johnson)