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Advent, expectation or celebration?
Some time ago I heard a journalist on television say that during a Mass with some young people in Austria, Pope Benedict XVI had celebrated the liturgy, wearing green liturgical vestments to send “a clear ecological message.”
Although it is something simple, it comes as no surprise that many people do not understand that the vestments with which priests — or the pope — celebrate Mass depend on the liturgical time that the church celebrates.
The green color of the priests’ vestments during the liturgical time that we call “ordinary” symbolizes the constancy of Christian hope — and not defense of ecology, however noble this cause may be.
The church, throughout the centuries, through the sacred liturgy, has given us the opportunity to celebrate the different times of Christian life. Advent, the liturgical time that precedes Christmas, is one of them.
“Advent” comes from a Latin word meaning “proximity of an arrival,” to that which is going to come imminently. Catholics prepare for the great feast of the Nativity of the Lord, the arrival of God-with-us.
During Advent, the predominant color is purple, a color that since antiquity symbolizes penitence, and that is why it is also used during Lent.
However, Advent has a tone different from Lent. At this time, penitence is the spiritual effort we make to be prepared to welcome the incredible mystery of God who becomes one of us.
Just as the joyous arrival of a loved one is usually preceded by many preparations and efforts, in the same way the proximity of Christmas involves a special effort to prepare for the arrival of Baby Jesus.
In fact, we see around us many “preparations” that keep us exteriorly busy, decorating homes with lights and colors, giving Christmas gifts and sending cards, preparing for family reunions.
Nevertheless, this is not the preparation that the liturgy asks of us at this time. On the contrary, it calls us to an inner preparation that requires from us to be interiorly busy rather than exteriorly.
It is our spirit, our entire being, that must be prepared for the arrival of the Lord, and in this regard, the excessive preoccupation with the external aspects of the holiday can distract us from a proper inner preparation.
As you will see during the Masses of this time, the predominant voice is that of St. John the Baptist, the man who preceded the paths of the Savior, calling to prepare hearts for the coming of the Lord.
How can we prepare our hearts? I want to suggest some ways. This time prior to Christmas is conducive to turning to the sacrament of confession. As the liturgical time is renewed, it is also time to renew, cleanse the soul, and what better way to do this than through this wonderful sacrament given to us by the Lord.
Another way I would like to recommend is meditation and prayer. There is always time to pray. Prayer in the family, meditation on the Scriptures, and especially visits to the Blessed Sacrament in your parishes are some of the many ways the church offers us to pray.
Lastly, I want to recommend charity. There are many people who, right now, lack the means to celebrate Christmas, or are alone and defenseless. You can always find someone who needs your support, your time, your patience and your love. Don’t pass up these chances to find Jesus in the suffering person.
In these ways, I am sure that your Christmas will be more blessed than ever, a true celebration of the expectation of the coming of the Lord Jesus!
Let us commend ourselves to Mary, the mother who is in sweet expectation, so that we can be worthy to be with her at this time.
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