First Sunday of Advent (A)

Advent, from the Latin adventus ("coming"), marks the beginning of the Church year comprising the four weeks before Christmas. In recent years, Advent has been viewed as forming the first part of the three-part season of Christmas: (1) Advent; (2) Christmas; (3) Epiphany. The season of Advent, my brothers and sisters, appears to have originated in Gaul (modern day France), in the second half of the Fourth Century A.D. At this time it was a three-week fast before Christmas. We do not find the first mention of Advent in Rome, however, until the late Sixth Century. From the beginning, Advent has been a season of preparation for Christ's coming. When Advent observances first began, Christians living in the West (the western part of the Roman Empire) emphasized preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. Christians in the East stressed preparation for the celebration of Christ's birth. Our Scripture readings for the next weeks focus on three comings of Christ in reversed chronological order: (1) His Second Coming at the end of time; (2) His Messianic Coming, as announced by John the Baptist, to begin His official work as Messiah; (3) His First Coming in Bethlehem, as our newborn King. Featured in each of these three comings is a very important fourth coming, of course, the coming of Christ to each believer. If Christ hasn't come to you through baptism and faith, none of His other comings will benefit you! For many centuries Advent's overall tone was one of sorrow for sin and penance. But in keeping with the tone of the Scripture readings for the season, in our day the tone of Advent is one of anticipation and hope, as well as one of repentance, so Advent is a marvelous opportunity for spiritual growth. The spirit of Advent is expressed well in the parable of the bridesmaids who are anxiously awaiting the coming of the Bridegroom[1]. There is profound joy at the Bridegroom’s expected coming. And yet a warning of the need for preparation echoes through the parable. But even then, the prayer of Advent is still: Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel! ■ Fr.  Agustin, Pastor

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[1] Matt 25:1-13