Fourth week of Advent: A time to encounter

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.
 
From the Gospel of the Fourth Sunday of Advent:
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
 the infant leaped in her womb,
 and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
 cried out in a loud voice and said,
 “Blessed are you among women,
 and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
 And how does this happen to me,
 that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
 the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
 Blessed are you who believed
 that what was spoken to you by the Lord
 would be fulfilled. (Luke 1:41-45)

 “We consider Christmas as the encounter, the great encounter, the historical encounter, the decisive encounter, between God and mankind. He who has faith knows this truly; let him rejoice.” (St. Paul VI)

“God’s Word is the Lord Jesus Christ, who in this last age became man among men and women to unite end and beginning, that is men and women and God. The prophets receiving the gift of prophecy from this same Word foretold his coming in the flesh, which brought about the union and communion between God and humankind ordained by the Father. From the beginning the word of God prophesied that God would be seen by men and women and would live among them on earth; he would speak with his own creation and be present to it, bringing it salvation and being visible to it.” (St. Irenaeus)

“You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a Son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. … the price of our salvation is offered to you.” (St. Bernard)

“You are also blessed because you have heard and believed. A soul that believes both conceives and brings forth the Word of God and acknowledges his works. Let Mary’s soul be in each of you to proclaim the greatness of the Lord. Let her spirit be in each to rejoice in the Lord. Christ has only one mother in the flesh, but all bring forth Christ in faith.” (St. Ambrose)
“The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent. Life is recognizing the coming of the Lord.” (Henri Nouwen)
 
Fourth week of Advent: A time to encounter 
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.