Advent: Longing, Anticipating, Hoping

Advent is longing for; it is anticipation for; it is hope.

The Catholic Church has celebrated the Liturgies of Advent for centuries, even back to the 5-6th centuries, although with some variations.  This is a special time when we are anticipating the actual coming of Christ as a human person.

This is a time we anticipate celebrating the birth of Christ by preparing gifts, special foods, singing special music, and praying special prayers. We are excited about this new baby to be born into our family and hearts. Our Church helps us to notice all this in many ways, we prepare to practice charitable activities and improve our own behaviors for this very Special little King who is to come!

This is the acceptable time, the day of salvation, a time of peace and reconciliation; the great season of Advent. We try to observe it with faith and love, offering praise and thanksgiving to the Father for His Mercy and Love. He comes as His own son, Jesus the Christ that we may be made children of God. The Church uses this Holy time to teach us through Hymns, prayers and worship to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

Advent is more than a negative time of rooting out character defects. It is a time for positive growth – for bringing forth fruits of honesty, Christian charity and unselfish love. Unselfish love involves doing and hoping for good things for others without looking for anything in return (as in; “What’s in it for me?).

Let us give His Blessed Virgin Mother’s way a try: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to thy Word.” Let us clothe ourselves with Christ by stripping ourselves of unkind and unjust ways of thinking, judging and speaking. Let us ask for God’s help that we might become more and more like Him by being molded and fashioned into the image of Jesus. Increase our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love.

Let us pray Advent’s opening prayer: “Come Lord Jesus.”

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of reflections from members of religious orders who are serving in the Diocese of Evansville. The Message is grateful for the sisters’ contributions.