ADVENT

      "Jesus Christ is the joy and happiness of all who look forward to his coming!  Let us call upon him and say: "Come, Lord, and do not delay'."

     These words introduce our intercessions in the Prayer of the Church, the Divine Office, for the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the Church year and the renewal of our journey toward the Lord and our fulfillment and happiness.

     ADVENT - the word and spirit of this season of expectation comes from two Latin words - the verb VENIO meaning "to come" and AD meaning "toward" or "to".  It is a time of seeking and encounter.  It is a time of waiting with hope.

     Advent's twofold character is our preparation for Christ's coming at Christmas which celebrates that moment in time when Emmanuel - God With Us - took flesh in the person of Jesus and was born in Bethlehem of Judea.  It also invites us to prepare our hearts and souls for his second coming in glory at the end of the age.  It is a time of expectation.  Christ has come and renews himself in our lives as we celebrate his birth and the belief that he will come again.

    Come, Lord Jesus, and do not delay!  We await you with open hearts!

     There is a third "coming" to be recognized and celebrated.  It is the invitation that we have all received in our Baptism to "come to him".  He opens his heart to us ... he longs for our closeness ... he desires our return from the sinfulness and darkness of self to the blessing and light of his embrace ... he rejoices to find us seeking him.

     Advent begins/renews/rekindles a movement, a journey into the mystery of life.  Like the wise men that we will meet at Christmas we are searchers for truth and seekers of that which brings fulfillment.

     I love the words of the Collect Prayer at the Mass for this day.  The Church prays: "Grant your faithful, we pray, Almighty God, the resolve to RUN FORTH to meet your Christ!"  The emphasis is mine - "to run forth to meet your Christ".

     This Advent, let us resolve to run forth in one direction - toward the One who has already come toward us - Jesus the Christ.