Letter from the Pastor
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November 27, 2022There is something always exciting in starting anew: opening day of baseball, or school, opening of a new notebook or package. We like to start new and fresh each time. There is a great catharsis in letting go of the old and the past, and starting all over again. It is a refreshing feeling to the mind and soul.
Today is a new beginning; it is the First Sunday of a new Church’s Year, the most beautiful season of Advent. Advent is a four-week preparation for Christmas; sadly, it is the most overlooked season of the year. Advent is the most poetic and beautiful of the Seasons. What makes Advent so beautiful are the Scripture readings at Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, the music, the figures that appear, the color purple, even the time of the year.
Advent is a translation of a Greek word, which means ‘presence’ or, ‘arrival,’ i.e. the beginning of a presence. In the ancient world, the word (parousia) was a technical term for the presence of a king and also of a god being worshiped, who bestows his parousia (presence) upon the people for a time. For us, ‘Advent,’ means God’s presence has arrived (Christmas).
Advent begins on the Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (Nov. 30). It spans four weeks although the last week of Advent is usually shortened because of when Christmas falls. Advent has a twofold character. The first part of Advent draws our attention to the arrival of God’s presence at the end of this world. Then on December 17th, we prepare for the arrival of God’s Presence at Christmas.
In its earliest form, Advent began in France. Advent was a period of preparation for the Feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 6th), a day when converts were baptized; so over time, the Advent preparation became similar to Lent with an emphasis on prayer and fasting. Advent was extended and began on the Feast of St. Martin on November 11th.
The Church gradually more formalized the celebration of Advent. Pope St. Gregory (d. 604) composed prayers, antiphons, readings, and responses for the Sundays; then Pope St. Gregory VII (d. 1095) reduced the number of Sundays in Advent to four. Finally, about the ninth century, the Church designated the first Sunday of Advent as the beginning of the Church year.
The Season of Advent helps us to begin again. Over the past year, we perhaps have strayed off the course a bit, or become lost amidst the troubles and anxieties of our modern life. Advent always coaxes us back. Without Advent we might forget to make straight our paths and ponder what transpired in a lonely cave in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago; and what it means for us today.
Advent is the Presence begun, a time when the Church invites us to slow down, savor the anticipation of Christmas and prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord. And while we know we should do this, our busy calendars and social lives almost always derails us from this season of prayerful preparation. So try your best, to keep Advent amidst the Christmas rush. With His Presence arriving, we can begin again, another opening day to a new year of grace and favor from the Lord.
Blessed Advent to you and your loved ones.
