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.
The Second Week of Advent: A time to listen
From the Gospel of the Second Sunday of Advent:
… the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Luke 3:2-6)
“Christ, the light of all lights, follows John, the lamp that goes before him. The Word of God follows the voice in the wilderness; the bridegroom follows the bridegroom’s friend, who prepares a worthy people for the Lord ….” (St. Gregory Nazianzen)
“It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open the doors of hope.” (Pope Benedict XVI)
“Keep God’s Word in this way. Let it enter into your very being, let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life. Feed on goodness and your soul will delight in its richness, remember to eat your Bread or your heart will wither away. Fill your soul with richness and strength.” (St. Bernard)
“John is the voice, but the Lord is the Word who was in the beginning. John is the voice that lasts for a time; from the beginning Christ is the Word who lives forever.” (St. Augustine)
“The prophecy makes clear that it is to be filled, not in Jerusalem but in the wilderness … the prophecy meant that God was to come to a deserted place, inaccessible from the beginning … the voice commands that a way be prepared for the Word of God … so that God may find a highway when he comes … to bring all mankind the knowledge of God’s saving power.” (St. Eusebius of Caesarea)
Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent
December 8, 2024
As we gather in this second Sunday in this sacred season of Advent, we are invited to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by “listening.” The readings today beautifully weave together themes of hope, joy, and transformation, guiding us on our journey towards Christmas. Listen to them.
In the first reading from the Book of Baruch, we hear a powerful message of transformation and hope. Jerusalem is called to shed its robe of mourning and misery and to put on the splendor of God’s glory. This imagery of changing garments symbolizes a profound inner transformation. God promises to bring back the exiled children of Israel, leading them in joy and glory. This passage reminds us that no matter how deep our sorrow or how long our exile, God’s promise of restoration and joy is ever-present. As we prepare for Christmas, let us embrace this hope and allow God to transform our lives.
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul expresses his deep affection and joy for the community. He is confident that the good work God has begun in them will be brought to completion. Paul’s prayer is that their love may abound more and more, leading them to discern what is truly valuable. This passage encourages us to grow in love and knowledge, preparing ourselves for the day of Christ. As we await the coming of our Savior, let us strive to increase in love and righteousness, allowing God to complete His work in us.
The Gospel reading from Luke introduces us to John the Baptist, the voice crying out in the desert, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John’s call to repentance is a call to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. The imagery of leveling mountains and filling valleys speaks to the radical transformation required to welcome the Messiah. Advent is a time of preparation, a time to examine our lives and make straight the paths for the Lord. Let us heed John’s call to repentance and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.
As we reflect on these readings, let us embrace the hope and joy that they bring. God is at work in our lives, transforming our sorrow into joy, our exile into homecoming. Let us prepare our hearts for the coming of our Savior, growing in love and righteousness. May this Advent season be a time of profound transformation and joyful anticipation as we await the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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.