Blessed Advent!

Blessed Advent!

As we embark upon a new Church season, it is important to recall that seasons have meaning.  The Christmas season celebrates the birth of a Savior - Jesus Christ (Christmas) and his manifestation to the whole world (Epiphany).  Lent embarks upon forty days of prayer and fasting with Jesus in the desert.  Advent means "coming."  God, in the person of Jesus, came to save us from our sins.  Christians throughout the world anticipate Christ's coming at the end of time.  And, Jesus comes to us at every moment of our lives; he is the one who feeds us, showing us the path to the Father while respecting our free will.  As Advent has dawned, let us reflect upon symbols of this season.
1.  The Advent wreath helps us to remember that Jesus came as light into the world.  In the midst of these short days, sunlight being less than half our day, we realize our dependence upon light.  We need light to live and grow, and Jesus is the one who provides.
2.  Violet is symbolic of repentance and preparing.  Advent prepares us for Christ's coming.  To prepare ourselves, we must remember the need to be repentant people.  The voice of John the Baptist, on the Second Sunday of Advent, tells us, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 3:2)  The word repent begs us to change from our sinful ways and center ourselves upon Jesus.  Prayer, charity, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation point us to repentance.
3.  Four is a symbolic number to our faith.  There are four evangelists, four gospel versions, and four Cardinal virtues.  Advent is marked by four weeks.  With the fourth Sunday of Advent, we know in the week ahead, the story of Christmas will be told.  Christmas can fall from the Monday after the fourth Sunday of Advent till the following Sunday; however, that fourth candle on the Advent wreath celebrates the nearness of Christmas.

The above are only a few of the symbols, yet they mark the uniqueness of Advent.  May our celebration of Advent be filled with God's grace as we ready ourselves for Jesus Christ.

Father Peter Schuster