WHAT IS THE MEANING OF ADVENT?

The pagans had used the word “advent” to mean the “coming” of their god. On a fixed day of the year, they would expose its statue, because they were convinced that in this way the god would make its presence felt among its faithful, ready to hand out blessings and favours. The word “advent” was used also to mean the “visit” of a king to a city, or the crowning day of a sovereign.

The Christians applied all these various meanings to the “coming” of their God into the world, who had manifested himself in Jesus Christ, while the term “advent” was used to identify specifically the period of time set aside to prepare this “visit”.

From the way things are: hasn’t Jesus come already? Why do we prepare as if he were to come once again? Is Christmas just a birthday feast and Advent the time one spends to prepare for it buying food and drinks, inviting friends, learning songs and dances? No. Advent is nothing of all this. This is how the pagans prepared their feast of the “birth of the sun”. Christians also rejoice, are happy, sing and dance on Christmas day, but this is not the main aspect of it.

WHAT ARE WE TO DO DURING ADVENT?

The word of God which will accompany us or the coming Sundays tells us that Jesus has not come just once. He keeps coming. He comes and is present at all that happens in the world and in the Church; he comes and is present in all those who spread new ideas, utter words of love, peace and reconciliation, in those who strive to build a new world.

Jesus comes to us every day but we are always out of our homes, and we prefer to close our eyes and ears. Those who are drunk start saying stupid things, many insults are thrown here and there, mishandling his family by them going hungry and children thrown out of school because of lack of school fees. Can Jesus come into the heart of such a man? Or think of a young lady/ man who refuses to study and fails his or her exams for three years in succession, roams around and about and goes to feasts only to abuse drugs, crime and losing the purpose in life or vocation. In such a young man/lady is Jesus truly present in such a person? What about a Christian community whose members are envious, jealous, divided, speak ill of each other, do not help each other. Has Jesus come? In a nation where citizens kill each other, where there is war, violence, injustice, hate, grudges, feuds and so on, has Jesus come? No he has not come and cannot come before the obstacles preventing his coming are removed.

Barriers will have to be pulled down, valleys filled up, men must not be divided by any obstacle any more since whatever divides cuts off also from Christ.

The reading we are going to listen and reflect upon are to invite us to keep vigilant, keep our eyes wide open in order to discover and prepare the ways that Jesus has chosen to come and free us from the evil with which we seek happiness, but that instead provokes only a lot of sorrow.

Prepare your house to receive Christ in your heart by attending Mass, going for confession regularly and being charitable to those who are not privileged around you, visit an orphanage, give a lift a Christian who prays with you in your church, being cheerful always and above all smile in your mind, heart and in your liver.

God bless you abundantly during this season of awaiting….