Prepare the way of the Lord: reflections on the season of Advent

The word “advent” comes from the Latin term adventus, literally meaning “coming to.” The four weeks of the season of Advent before Christmas create a unique season of hope-filled preparation for all of us in the Catholic Christian community — although it can easily be missed by society at large as simply an extended, early celebration of Christmas. True enough, Christ has come, and we should rejoice in his Incarnation every day of our lives. But Advent gives us all time for a prayerful “retelling” of the story of the “Hope of Israel.” We prepare ourselves for the commemoration of Christ’s coming in history in Bethlehem, his coming in mystery each day in the Church and the sacraments, and his coming in majesty at the end of time.

Our disposition and expectation as individual Catholics, as individual believers, truly influence and model the way in which our fellow parishioners as “communities of believers” look at Advent and incorporate its hope and excitement into their lives as Christmas approaches. The images of Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Mary figure so prominently in the Scriptures we read and hear during these few, fast weeks. And whether “in person” at Church or online, we need to let the Word sink deeply into our minds, hearts and souls. The hymns we have always sung and the Mass prayers we pray all fix our attention in faith upon the One who has come, is coming and is yet to come, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is all about him, everything we are and everything we do as Catholics. We make every day an anticipation for yet another, more profound, more transforming revelation. Although we have heard and sung and prayed the Advent message many times before, a pause, some quiet time of prayer, the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation all go a long way to “make all things new” … again … although the Advent and Christmas story are as old as the Church itself.

This year, permit me as your Bishop to offer some thoughts each week of Advent for your reflection, meditation and prayer, drawn from the Church’s rich spiritual treasury. 

First week of Advent: A time to prepare
From the Gospel of the First Sunday of Advent:
Always be vigilant 
and pray that you have the strength 
to escape the tribulations that are imminent 
and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21: 36)

“Advent is here. What a marvelous time in which to renew your desire, your nostalgia your real longing for Christ to come — for him to come every day to your soul in the Eucharist. The Church encourages us: ecce veniet — he is about to arrive.” (St. Josemaria Escriva)
“We do not preach only one coming of Christ but a second one as well, much more glorious than the first. The first coming was marked by patience; the second will bring the crown of a divine kingdom.” (St. Cyril of Jerusalem)

“The Church asks us to understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts, bringing with him the riches of his grace.” (St. Charles Borromeo)

“Advent is synonymous with hope, not the vain waiting for a ‘faceless god’ but concrete and certain trust in the return of him who has already visited us.” (St. John Paul II) 
“Advent is a journey toward Bethlehem. May we let ourselves be drawn by the light of God made man.” (Pope Francis)
“Advent, this powerful liturgical season that we are beginning, invites us to pause in silence to understand a presence. It is an invitation to understand that the individual events of the day are hints that God is giving us, signs of the attention he has for each one of us.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent
December 1, 2024

Jesus’ life, mission and his ministry were deliberate, i.e., freely chosen and intentional. It is somewhat hard to understand and contemplate that, from and within all eternity, Jesus decided and chose (1) to take on flesh/become man; (2) and thru that choice, to save us in concrete ways: thru his human birth, thru life, death, and resurrection.

Although the whole of Jesus’ life is one continuous action, we separate out each aspect of the Lord Jesus’ life on earth during the year, through different liturgical seasons. 
The season of Advent which we begin today focuses on the beginning of his human his life, his becoming flesh — what we call the Lord Jesus’ incarnation. We remember and celebrate that incarnation so long awaited, that mysterious incarnation foretold by prophets in which he became fully human while remaining fully God.

Today we begin to anticipate Christmas again more intensely.

The readings of Advent call that anticipation to mind; but the season of Advent has a second focus: the end of time and our own becoming something more than we are today! With each passing day, we grow and change, but we always have the Lord Jesus with us.
Over 2,000 years since his birth, the Church invites us to reflect upon, not just the baby of Bethlehem but also the Man of Nazareth and the Christ of Calvary, who offers to show us the way to live!
Go back to my initial comment: Jesus’ life, mission and ministry were deliberate; they were an intentional, free choice. If we wish to remain connected with his choice, we must make our own deliberate choice to follow him.

Like the feast of Christmas, which has already occurred in history but which we revisit annually, so, too, the choice made in baptism must be revisited again and again. We must choose discipleship, wherever it leads: Advent is a season of discipleship in which we renew our commitment to him who committed himself to be one of us; to live for us; to die for us; to rise to a new life that he shares with us!

Jesus’ life, mission and ministry were deliberate. So, too, must our response be: we must choose and commit ourselves to be his disciple.

May the season of Advent bring you peace and joy and increase your longing for the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life.

Check back each week for more from Bishop O’Connell on the season of Advent.