By Jacqueline Kelly –
Advent prepares us for Christmas. It is the expectant waiting, hopeful anticipation and cheerful preparation of God breaking into our lives at all moments, all places and all times- past, future and present. Commemorating the birth of Jesus, preparing for Christ’s return and welcoming God into our lives every day. Advent prepares us for these events.
Advent is not stressing about Christmas, not rushing around shopping, planning, baking, parties, cards, gifts, decorations, carolling and Santa. There is a lot more to it. It is not a race to December 25. It is not Lent. It is about hope and not repentance. Lent is more about spring cleaning of our lives. Advent is a cozier getting your home ready to welcome a special guest – JESUS. The one we have been waiting for.
Advent Calendar
Advent as a Church tradition occurred somewhere around the 4th or 5th century. Most of what we know and practice today can be traced back to the Middle Ages and late 19th Century.
In 1851, the first mention of an Advent Calendar was seen in Elise Averdieck’s picture book. The first printed Advent Calendar was created in 1908 by a German named Gerhard Lang. As a boy, his mother would sew twenty-four cookies onto the lid of a box. Each day of December, he ate a cookie. This tradition inspired him to create a calendar entitled “In the Land of the Christ Child”. Today, Advent Calendars are a popular tool for families to count the days until Christmas.
The calendar usually has 24 doors or boxes to open, one for each day in December leading up to Christmas Day. Some Advent Calendars are simple, portraying a picture of a portion of the Nativity story behind each tiny door. Some calendars feature a piece of chocolate for each day of the countdown and some are more elaborate and costly and include toys or gifts.
The liturgical year begins with the Advent Season. The season which starts four Sundays before December 25 ends at the Christmas Vigil Mass. There are two themes to this season, both reflected by the term “Advent” which means “arrival” or “coming”. First, this season is a period to prepare for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord [Christmas].
Second, it is a time to reflect and prepare for Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time.
During the season of Advent we remember the long years of waiting by the people of Israel for the Messiah, the messages of hope in the prophets, and how Mary and Joseph were faithful to God’s plan.
What is often forgotten is that the first three weeks of Advent focus on the coming of the Lord Jesus at the end of time while the last week gives attention to His coming into history as the Incarnate Word. The Gloria is omitted on Sundays in Advent not as a sign of repentance, but to create a longing that will inspire people to sing it more joyfully at Christmas.
The Word “Liturgy” itself comes from the combination of two Greek words meaning “Work of the People”.
In celebrating the mystery of the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus the Liturgy does all these things. Jesus is the way to the Father; He is the bridge that enables us to cross the great divide between God and Man. He is both truly God and truly Man. He is the Light that illumines our darkness. In the Church, Jesus assembles the People of God around the Table of the Lord, nourishes them by His Word. In the water of Baptism He gives us new life and through the Sacrament of Reconciliation cleanses us from our sins and brings us back into relationship with the Father. Even from the earliest moments of his earthly existence, He becomes food for His sheep. Placed in the ciborium, He becomes our Bread of Life.
Liturgical Colour
Since, Advent is a time of expectation and preparation the colours violet or purple are used in the vestments and decorations. Purple is a colour that was reserved for use by royalty, and so it is used in Advent to symbolize the coming of Christ our King, as celebrated at Christmas and as we prepare for the coming of God’s Kingdom.
The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for Rejoice. The expected guest has almost arrived. [KJV Matthew 3:3] The vestments worn on this day may be the colour rose to symbolize the hope for the coming of Jesus.
Themes in Prayer and Scripture
From the beginning of Advent until December 16 the focus is on preparation for the coming of God’s Kingdom. From December 17 to December 24 the theme shifts to the anticipation of the birth of Jesus and His ministry.
The Gospel reading during each Sunday of Advent reflects these themes. The Gospel for the First Sunday of Advent concerns Christ’s coming at the end of time. John the Baptist is the subject of the Gospel for the Second and Third Sundays. The Gospel for the Fourth Sunday addresses the events that happened right before the birth of Jesus.
The readings from the Old Testament, especially from the Book of Isaiah, speak about the Messiah and the Messianic age. The New Testament readings reflect the themes of Advent.
Special Solemnities in Advent 3rd December – Saint Francis Xavier
St. Francis Xavier was a sign to the people to whom he fearlessly preached the Good News in far off lands. Like St. Paul he accepted the responsibility of preaching as an important duty and in the process he led many people to embrace the faith.
8th December – Immaculate Conception of Mary
Mary was chosen to be the vessel in which the Son of God would be conceived, nurtured and delivered. Her life was holy, of complete dependence on God’s grace. Her faith was reflected in her actions. Mary said “Yes” when God asked Her to be the Mother of Jesus.
Advent is also a time for us to think about when Jesus will come again. It is a time for us to prepare for His final coming and for the day when we will, at last, go home.