Giving Tuesday thru Nov. 29
In life, it is not uncommon to experience joy when we anticipate the arrival of something or some event that makes us happy. The joy of anticipation is a real human experience. Perhaps, as you read this article, you can recall a moment in your life in which you experienced joy as you looked forward to being reunited with family members, or in anticipation of a happy event, like a birthday party, a family reunion, or the birth of a child. Either way, we can experience joy even before the day of joy begins. This is because we look forward to the things to come with great hope. It is a wonder in itself how we experience happiness in anticipation and hope. With Halloween now past us and Thanksgiving just around the corner, the Fall season is almost at an end as we prepare for winter. But in the Church’s calendar, the season that is near is the Advent season. The word “advent” comes from the Latin word, “advenio,” which simply means “to come to.” In the Catholic faith, the Advent season marks a time of preparation for the joy of Christmas. Advent is a penitential season that comes immediately before Christmas. This season lasts for four Sundays, in which the Christian faithful look forward to the joy of Christmas. The season of Advent had originated as a 40-day period of fasting and prayer in preparation for Christmas, much like the season of Lent originated as a 40day period in preparation of Easter. In this sense, we can say that Advent is a season of anticipation. But what are we anticipating? We are anticipating the coming of Jesus. And this coming of Jesus can be thought of in three ways. The first way is his first coming into the world. The second way is his coming again at the end of time. And the third way is his coming into our hearts. Let me begin with the first way, Jesus’ first coming. According to the written Gospels given to us in scripture, the entry of Jesus into the world is a historical event. In St. Luke’s Gospel, for example, the author records the birth of Jesus (Luke 2) in the context of the rulers of that time. Specifically, he mentions Caesar Augustus and Quirinius. This mention of specific names not only indicates a time period of Jesus birth but more importantly makes a bold claim that Jesus’ coming into the world was a historical fact.
In other words, we do not see it as a myth or some kind of fairy tale. Rather, we acknowledge God taking on human flesh as a definitive moment in salvation history.
The fact that God chose to become human, taking a human body, and becoming like us in all things except sin, is itself an incredible revelation of God’s love for us.
The second way in which we can speak of Jesus’ coming is the second coming of Christ, at the end of time.
It is a moment that every Christian is expecting, in which there will be a final victory of light over darkness.
This directs our thoughts to when Christ will come again to call us to himself. It is a reminder that we must prepare ourselves.
The surest way to be ready for Christ coming into the world again is to be ready now.
This is the beauty of Advent. It not only looks back at Jesus’ first coming but it also looks forward to his second coming.
This brings me to the third way of Jesus’ coming, his coming into our hearts.
With the understanding that Jesus will come again, we can depend more and more on him to prepare our hearts. The effort and initiative is not really ours but his.
It is our relationship with Jesus that motivates and configures us to prepare our heart, our mind and our soul, for this second advent.
At the time of Jesus’ birth in a manger, there were others who were invited to share in the joy of the first Christmas. Here we can think of the magi or the shepherds who witnessed the birth of the savior. To them was revealed the joyful news of the birth of the Messiah. However, there were many who were not ready.
We can think of king Herod, who sought to kill the King of kings. We can think of the inn keepers, who were too busy with their business to welcome the creator of the world. We can think of the scribes and Pharisees who were not aware of the Messiah’s coming into the world.
It is interesting to think about how many of the chosen people of Israel, who had been waiting in anticipation for the coming of the Messiah, were simply not ready to receive Jesus when he entered the world.
It is a reminder to all of us, that we must stay awake and be ready for Jesus in our own spiritual journeys of faith.
One tradition that is practiced in many Christian homes is the use of the Advent wreath, which is full of beautiful symbolism.
It is a wreath usually made of evergreens and contains five candles of different colors.
The evergreen never dies throughout the year, which is symbolic of eternal life. The fact that the wreath is circular is symbolic of God, who neither has a beginning nor and end. Finally, the flame of the candles represents Christ as the light of the world.
After all, we recognize Christ as the Light of the world, whose coming into the world dispels the darkness of sin in order to radiate the truth and love of God.
The candles are colored, three purple candles and one pink candle along the crown of the wreath and a white candle in the center.
The color purple recalls the penitential character of the season. The pink candle represents the joy of Gaudete (“rejoice”) Sunday, which lands on the third Sunday of Advent. And the white candle represents the joy of Christmas.
Each candle is lit for each Sunday as we advance through the Advent season until we finally arrive at Christmas. So, we can see the Advent wreath is full of Christian symbolism.
When we use the Advent wreath in our homes, we stir our hearts to faith as we joyfully expect Christmas. In turn, we keep our minds and hearts focused on the true meaning of Christmas.
As Christmas is now only a month and a half away, I pray and hope that all men and women of faith look forward to celebration of Christ’s birth with that joyful expectation that is inspired by God. It is God who enters into our world. That is what Christmas is about. We must have the willingness to receive him in joy and praise.
As the new season approaches, I wish everyone a happy Advent and a Merry Christmas.
Giving Tuesday WTX is coming up November 29. The Hockley County Endowment has opened the giving campaign will run through Tuesday, November 29, at 11:59 p.m. To give, please visit the website at hockleycounty endowment.org. Giving can be in the form of a check or by making a donation at any of the donation boxes located around Levelland. Fr. Jonathan Phillips has been serving as the pastor of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Levelland since 2019. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2016. And he now serves as an officer on the Levelland Ministerial Alliance.