Advent - Season of Preparation and Expectation

Usually, Advent is presented as a joyful expectation of the Savior's coming. Moreover, this expectation is often reduced to preparation for Christmas, which is an annual commemoration of an event from more than two thousand years ago. However, listening to the texts of the Mass readings of the first days of Advent, it is fruitlessly to look for references to the birth of Jesus that took place in Bethlehem. Moreover, in the text of the Gospel of the First Sunday of Advent (Mt 24:37-44) there is also no reference to this "joy" that supposed to accompany us for the next four weeks of Advent.

Undoubtedly, the view of what Advent is described above is true, but it does not fully describe this Season. I also think that often in the consciousness of believers there is such an incomplete picture of the Advent expectation. Probably all sorts of circumstances that accompany the November/December days contribute to this: shop decorations clearly referring to the holidays, music on the radio, cleaning the apartment, house, pre-Christmas shopping or planning to celebrate the Christmas Eve supper. What is more, retreats or Advent confessions also make the thought of the annual celebration of the Nativity of Jesus come to the fore of living Advent.

In order to fully perceive the meaning of Advent, it should be added that it is also – and perhaps above all – a time of waiting for the second coming of Jesus to Earth at the end of time, that is, for the Parousia. Therefore, the right understanding – and consequently also the living of this season – is to be directed to prepare for the encounter with Jesus on the day when "he will come in glory to judge the living and the dead", as we say every Sunday, making a profession of faith at Mass.

This dimension of preparation is also to be characterized by joy, because the Parousia will be the moment of our resurrection and the beginning of endless joy, where there will be neither death nor sin. words of encouragement in the Gospel refer to. He utters it after announcing apocalyptic visions of tribulation and the end of the temporal world:

" But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand " (Lk 21:28).

Advent is the preparation to the full realization of redemption in our lives. Yes, it took place on the cross, but living in this world we struggle with sin every day. The Lord's return into the world will end this struggle. And this is the Good News.

This is another Advent in the life of each of us. May it be not just a time of pre-Christmas running, cleaning or shopping. We are to wait not only for the day of December 25 – the Nativity of the Lord. First of all, we await the encounter with Jesus at the end of time. This happens every day, but Advent is especially meant to make us aware of this. I have to live every day as if it were the last day of my life. Every day I have to be ready that it is "today" that the Lord will come.

Until Tomorrow

fr. george