Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,
So, we begin the Season of Advent, a time of anticipation, not only for the upcoming Solemnity of Christmas, but also for the Lord’s ultimate “advent” at the end of days.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that at the end of days “they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory”. He also says that there will be signs, and that when the Lord returns, “the powers of the heavens will be shaken”. He warns, “beware that your hearts do not become drowsy”.
The main point of Jesus’ words is to exhort His listeners to stay awake, not allowing the daily routines of life or worldly excesses to lure them into a state of spiritual drowsiness, oblivious to the spiritual dangers around them. He wants His listeners to be prepared, “for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
The Church invites us to use the Season of Advent as a time of spiritual preparation, not only so that we celebrate Christmas with the proper focus (i.e. the true meaning of Christmas), but also that we pay attention to the signs of the times, attend to our own spiritual health and prepare for our eventual appearance before the Lord after we take our last breath (which could happen sooner than we expect).
So, I invite you to embrace the Season of Advent so that you:
- Draw closer to God’s merciful love.
- Let go, more and more, of those things that draw you away from goodness and from God.
- Better prepare to face the Lord, if he were to call you from this life today.
- And Celebrate Christmas with joyful gratitude for the greatest of all gifts, Jesus, who saves us from our sins.
Have a blessed Advent,
