Advent Begins

Dear friends, 

Sunday marks the beginning of the season of Advent, and the start of the Church year. Although the secular world sees this season as a time for shopping and decorating, parties and wrapping gifts, the Church begins with apocalyptic readings – talk about the “end times” when Jesus will come again in great glory to judge the quick and the dead.  

How do we as people who live in both the secular and the sacred navigate both worlds? With the delightful expectation of Christmas celebrations AND as faithful followers of Jesus who tells us “No one but God the Father knows the day or the hour when these things will come to pass?” How do we navigate this time, this season of darkness, when so much of God’s plan seems shrouded in mystery and unknowing? We are told to “stay awake” in the midst of our confusion and our longing. To look for the Light, to BE the light in the darkness.  

St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans encourages us to “…put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ..” as your Advent clothing; your Advent practice. Shine the Light of Christ into the darkness by your gifts, your generosity to those in need, your grace and forgiveness offered freely. Be swift to love and make haste to be kind. May these be our Advent practices, as we anticipate with joy and anticipation the birth of our Savior anew in our hearts. 

Peace and blessings, 

Nancy+