by Br. John Gallagher
I often say, “Advent is my favorite Church season of the year.” Come to think of it, I say that about Easter too, but I think there are different reasons. Easter is a time of new life blossoming all around us; nature is coming back to life; and there seem to be many kinds of events to attend, graduations, first Communions, confirmations, weddings, and many more. Outdoor sports activities lure us out of our winter hibernation. Eastertide brings us out of the penitential season of Lent and overflows with joy at the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. The Scripture readings of the Easter season are filled with joy and enthusiasm. The newest initiated Catholics spread the joy of new life that Jesus won for us by his death and resurrection.
In contrast, the Church’s tradition tells us that Advent is a season of “devout and joyful expectation,” a time of prayer, penance, and joyful preparation for commemorating the birth of the Lord and preparing for His second coming. The Scriptures for the Advent season reflect the longing of the Jewish people throughout salvation history for the coming of the Messiah as proclaimed by the great prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah and Jeremiah. It is a time of the year in our part of the world where nature is preparing to go dormant, or at least slow down, from its hectic activities to prepare for a springtime of new life in a few months. Church environments are simple and somber, and church music is in minor keys. The Advent prayers exhibit a lament for what has not yet happened; the lion and the lamb have not laid down together; the mountains have not yet been leveled nor the valleys filled in an effort to make straight the way of the Lord and a longing for what can be. “Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King,” as the popular Gospel hymn goes.
Advent leads us into the celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world. The birth of the Lord was very important to St. Francis of Assisi, because it embodied the deep humility and love of God through the poverty and simplicity of Jesus’ birth. He wanted to help people visualize and feel the reality of the first Christmas, which led him to create the first live nativity scene in 1223 at Greccio. By re-enacting the birth with a real-life creche including an ox, donkey, and hay, he sought to highlight Jesus’ poverty and connect the humility of the Incarnation with the suffering of the Passion. Francis saw the act of God becoming human as an act of “emptying himself,” which would continue through his life and end with his death.
On Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Jubilee Year of Hope concluded. At the same time, this occasion flowed right into the Advent season. Advent is often referred to as a “season of hope,” because the Scriptures explore the themes of hope that are presented throughout the Old Testament. In Old Testament times, hope was expressed for the coming of the promised Messiah. The hope we express during Advent looks forward with anticipation both to the historical coming of Jesus and to his promised second coming at the end of time. Francis of Assisi believed that all of creation should participate in the celebration of Christmas. He wanted all creatures to share in the joy of Christmas, even requesting that people scatter grain and feed animals on Christmas Day. Activities tend to accelerate at this time of the year, which makes Advent preparation very challenging. The fact that many religions also celebrate important events around the same time has turned the season of Advent into the so-called “holiday season.” It is difficult to insert ourselves into the simplicity and humility of the commemoration of the birth of the Lord at Christmas. The bias of our popular culture is such that we avoid any lament of the fact that there is still war, injustice, and continuing destruction of Mother Earth. In spite of the fact that we have still not unfolded the breadth and depth of the Kingdom of God, we do not walk in darkness or despair but in the reflection of Christ, the Light of the World.
The hope that had been proclaimed from the beginning of time was fulfilled in the birth of the Son of God. The promises of Advent are rooted in God’s faithfulness to his promises, both in the past with the first coming of Jesus and in the future with his return. These promises include a savior for humanity, the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, peace, joy, and the ultimate defeat of sin and suffering. These themes are explored through the traditional Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. They hold out the promises for the future, where Christ will come again in glory to make all things new; where sin and suffering will be no more, and every tear will be wiped away. The promises of Advent also apply to the present, reminding believers that God is with them through the Holy Spirit. By trusting in God’s promises, believers can find peace, even amidst troubles, and experience a deeper sense of joy as they wait for God’s promises to be fully realized. The season of waiting encourages patience and teaches believers to rely on God’s timing.
These are God’s promises and our hopes at Christmas, and God always keeps his promises.