Advent Reflection 2023

"Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." - Is. 7:14

Every year, the Church celebrates the Advent season to fondly remember Christ’s first coming (i.e., birth) and eagerly await His second coming (i.e., parousia). For this reason, the first two Sundays in Advent (this year: December 3rd and 10th) look forward to Christ’s second coming, and the last two Sundays (this year: December 17th and 24th) look backward to His first coming.

During the first two weeks, Scripture readings from the Hebrew Tradition will remind us of Christ’s return in judgment (i.e., week 1: Is. 9—hope/promise) and the expectation of the coming Messiah (week 2: Is. 40—preparation/prophecy). The last two weeks, Scripture readings from the Christian Tradition will invite us to celebrate the joy of Christ's imminent arrival (week 3: Mt. 2—joy/peace) and of his birth, as announced by John the Baptist and the angels (week 4: Jn. 3—love/adoration).

While many of us think of Advent as the season for shopping, decorating, and partying, Advent is in fact a season of fasting from what keeps us apart from God and one another (e.g., overuse of technology), of yearning for what is yet to come (i.e., justice and peace), and of preparing for it (i.e., through confession and acts of charity). In other words, the season of Advent reminds us that we are still in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the definitive coming of the Messiah, and that we must be ready for when He comes so that we can join Him in the celebration that has no end (Mt. 25:35-40).

An easy way to remember all of this is by singing the Advent hymn "O come, O come, Emmanuel," which beautifully summarizes the Church’s Advent expectations:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Another way to remember the true meaning of Advent is by using an Advent wreath, which is a circular object (i.e., symbol of God’s unending love and eternal life) made of evergreens (i.e., symbol of everlasting life in the midst of winter and death) and adorned with red holly and berries (i.e., symbol of Jesus’ sacrifice and death), as well as pinecones (i.e., symbol of the new life Jesus brings through His Resurrection). The five candles placed on the wreath are lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. The first (i.e., hope) and second (faith) candles are purple; the third (joy) is rose-colored; the fourth (peace) can be purple or blue; and the last candle, placed in the middle of the wreath, is white because it is lit on Christmas day to celebrate our Lord's birth.

Finally, the most important practice to engage in during Advent (and throughout the liturgical year) is prayer, which is a beautiful way to help cut away from the distractions of the season and open your heart to prepare for the joy and hope of Christ's birth. Of the many prayers for Advent that are available to us, the following is one I would like to share, in the hopes that we will pray it together as a university community, at least at the beginning of each week of Advent.

This Advent, Lord, come to the manger of my heart.
Fill me with Your presence from the very start.
As I prepare for the holidays and gifts to be given,
remind me of the gift You gave when You sent Your Son from Heaven.
The first Christmas gift was the greatest gift ever.
You came as a baby born in a manger.
Wrapped like the gifts I find under my tree,
waiting to be opened to reveal Your love to me.
Restore to me the wonder that came with Jesus' birth,
when He left the riches of Heaven and wrapped Himself in the rags of earth.

Immanuel, God with us, Your presence came that night.
And angels announced, "Into your darkness, God brings His Light."
"Do not be afraid," they said, to shepherds in the field.
Speak to my heart today, Lord, and help me to yield.
Make me like those shepherd boys, obedient to Your call.
Setting distractions and worries aside, to You I surrender them all.
Surround me with Your presence, Lord; I long to hear Your voice.
Clear my mind of countless concerns and all the holiday noise.
Slow me down this Christmas; let me not be in a rush.
In the midst of parties and planning, I want to feel Your hush.
This Christmas, Jesus, come to the manger of my heart.
Invade my soul like Bethlehem, bringing peace to every part.
Dwell within and around me as I unwrap Your presence each day.
Keep me close to You, Lord.
It's in Your wonderful Name I pray.

- Renee Swope, “The Manger of My Heart”

Through reading sacred Scriptures, lighting candles in the Advent wreath, praying, going to confession, and performing acts of charity, we can prepare our hearts to fondly remember Christ’s first coming and eagerly await His second coming. May we all use this sacred time to grow closer to God and proclaim with hearts full of faith, hope, and love: "O come, O come, Emmanuel..."

A most blessed Advent season to all!

Sr. Walter Maher, CCVI
VP for Mission and Ministry