SEASON!!!
"waiting for the coming of". In the Advent Season, we wait, and prepare ourselves for
the coming of the Christ our Lord, in history, at the end of time, and most importantly in
our hearts. Being this is also the Jubillee season, we are also preparing for the new
millenium. It is imporant that we make the most of this advent season. Christ has come
to us in so many ways, and continues to come. He wants to be Emmanuel, "God with
us", not a god apart from us.
Christ's first coming was as a man in History. Christ was a real man born of a real
mother. God desired to become one of us, in order to teach us the truth about him, show
us how to live,and share his life with us. Before he came, we were searching on our own
to bring meaning to life and find joy. God did not desire to leave us to our own devices,
but came amoung us to show us the way. As is stated in the Gospel of John, "The word
became flesh and made his dwelling amoung us" (Jn. 1:14) God walked amoung us! God
talked with us! Our God is truly an intimate God who did not want to be separate from
the human scene.
During His time on earth, he offered himself on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. He
rose again conquering death. By these two mysteries, he obtained our salvation, and
shares his life with us. He instituted the Church, and her sacrament in order to
communicate this grace with us. God truly did everything possible to come close to us.
During advent, we prepare for the celebration of the Christmas mysteries, where we
remember Christ's coming to us as a man.
While on earth, Christ promised that he will one day return. As Catholics, we believe
that Christ will return and create a new heaven and new earth. All men will be judged,
those in sin will go to hell, and those who are in grace will share in this new life. The
dead will be reunited with thier bodies. However, we do not know when these things will
come. Christ told us that it will be like a thief in the night, and that we must be ready.
Also we never know, we may die before the end come. Thus Advent is a time of
preparation for Christ's return. We need to make sure that we are ready in the case that
we meet Christ tommorow.
Most imporantly, Advent is a time to prepare Christ's coming in our hearts. The first
two comings mean absolutely nothing to us if we have not allowed Christ to come into
our hearts. Christ has come in history, but if we do not surrender our lives to him, the
cross cannot do anything for us. Christ will establish paradise when he returns, but if we
have not kept our lamps burning brightly, we will condemn ourselves to eternal hell. It is
pertinent that we meet Christ before the Last Judgement.
This is not meant to scare you, but rather emphasize how much Christ has done for us.
Christ has done absolutely everything we could possibly ask, yet for many it is still not
enough. He has come as a man, he has taught us what to do, he has cured our illness, he
has saved us by his cross, he has established the sacraments to perpetuate salvation for all
time. He WANTS to come into our hearts. He has done everything, now it is our turn.
How do we let Christ in our hearts?
First by prayer. How can we know God without talking to him. We need to share our
lives with him, talk with Him, ask Him for our needs.
Secondly by the scriptures. Christ came to teach us his way, we need to learn this way
through his Word. Meditate on the mysteries of His coming and life. Especialy pray to
Mary, for it was through her that God became a man. Without her obedience to God's
plan, salvation could not have happened.
Third by opening ourselves up to the sacraments, especialy the Eucharist and Confession.
In the Sacraments, Christ comes to us in a real and concrete way. In the sacrament of
Reconcilliation, when the priest forgives us, it is Christ who is absolving us. He is just as
present there as he was to the woman caught in adultery. His Body, Blood, Soul and
Divinity is present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Everytime the Mass is said, our
salvation is accomplished. Come to know the prayers of the Mass, so that you may share
more intimately in the prayer of the church. Spend time in Adoration before Christ who
is very close. In the Eucharist, we are as close to Christ as John and Mary were at the
foot of the cross.
Christ truly loves us above all things. He wants to come into our lives, change us, fill us
with joy, the life of God. In this advent season, he asks us merely to let him do so. In the
words of our Holy Father: "Open Wide your hearts to Christ!" Trust me, He will surprise
you!
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