Advent - This Year and Always
Advent means “coming” and, simply put, Advent is the season when we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas.
As a priest, I have learned an awful lot about our faith when I teach religion to children. I recall two incidents that happened to me a few years ago where kids taught me something about Advent.
The first incident happened when I was visiting a class of St. Ignatius fourth graders during the Season of Advent. I asked them, “Can any of you help me understand Advent better?”
A little girl raised her hand and said, “Well, Father, sure. At this time of year, in the weeks before Christmas, I always see my mom and dad cleaning and decorating the house, cooking and baking good stuff, all to get ready for the company that’s going to soon visit us at Christmastime.”
“So, Advent,” the child went on, “ is the time when we get our hearts ready for the greatest Christmas gift of all – namely, Jesus.”
Now, I don’t think that’s a bad definition at all of Advent, do you?
The second incident happened a few years ago when I was visiting our sixth graders. One day, I was telling them that Advent was the time to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas. “But, Father,” a young fellow said, “Jesus already came that first Christmas, in Bethlehem, in the stable. So how can we get ready for His coming now? He already came!”
You know, that’s not a bad question either.
I tried to explain to the children that Jesus came the first time on the first Christmas, we commemorate his coming again this Christmas, and we look forward to His coming again at the end of our life when He will take us home to heaven.
As we look forward to December 25th, may the Lord fill your hearts with His joy this Advent and always.
Msgr. Samuel E. Shoemaker