Pastor's Letter

Advent: Coming into Being

Blessing of an Advent Wreath in the Home Before lighting the first candle, the household gathers for this blessing. “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” may be sung and a passage from scripture could be read (such as Isaiah 9:1-2).  Let us pray for God’s blessing upon us and upon this wreath. Lord, our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ: He is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples, He is the wisdom that teaches and guides us, He is the Savior of every nation.   Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath.  May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.  May he come quickly and not delay.   We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.   (The first candle is lit.)   Each day in Advent, perhaps at the evening meal, the candles are lit; one the first week; two the second and so on using this prayer:   Blessed are you, Lord our God in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you in this food and in our sharing. Blessed are you as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power, and glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Today, we enter a new liturgical year as we enter into Advent.  The word “advent” means “coming into being.”  And that’s a great way to see this time of year.  Something meaningful is happening.  This period of four Sundays will lead us into a celebration of Christ in our world and our lives.

The spiritual challenge at this time of year, though, is that for many it’s a very busy time.  With so much activity, and a culture that bombards us with many options to fill our time, the time can go as fast as a blink of the eye. 

And maybe that’s why the Church gives us today’s gospel.  It’s meant to set the stage.  In a time of busy-ness and going through the motions, Jesus urges us to “stay awake” (Matthew 24:42).  In the midst of the “doing” we also need to feed the soul.  And we can do that intentionally by being prepared and open for anything that might happen.  When we’re aware that the Lord is coming into being, we won’t miss it.  We’ll see it, because we’re awake to it.

The Advent Reflection books that people love are one way to do that.  So are Advent Wreaths and Advent Calendars, which keep us aware each day that we’re headed to Christmas.  In the midst of busy-ness, they are two great ways to stop and remind ourselves about what’s truly important and who’s leading us.

If you’re looking to go a little deeper, this suggestion comes from a parishioner.  The Gospel of Luke is 24 chapters long.  If we begin reading a chapter a day beginning today, we’ll finish the entire gospel by Christmas!  There’s nothing more meaningful than holding onto the words that give us life.  When we enter into the life of Christ, it can be a great way to reflect on what Christmas ultimately brings us: a life with God that’s never meant to end. 

Staying awake during Advent is possible when we commit ourselves to intentionally being aware to the ways Jesus Christ shows us that he’s with us.  What’s coming into being will be different for each one of us, but maybe it’s just a realization that it can happen.

I’m looking forward to journeying through this time of expectation with you and to discover how Christ is moving our community closer to Christmas. 

       –Fr. Mike

 

Parishioners display their Christmas lanterns they made together last month. The lantern, or “parole,” is a Filipino tradition that reminds us of the Star of Bethlehem, which led the kings to Jesus. The star appeared during Advent and, as such, becomes a symbol of awareness. When we notice the star, we are staying awake to what is coming into being.