A First Sunday of Advent Thought About the Freshness of Beginnings to Start the Week Off Right
Today, the first Sunday of Advent, brings us all a fresh beginning, the beginning of the Church Year. The Liturgical calendar starts today. And now we begin Advent in a spirit of preparation and penance.
I've always liked beginnings, both the freshness and newness. Whenever we would pack everyone up for a road trip, those first moments of making sure everyone was in the car, that we had all our suitcases and packages, turning the key to start up the car engine, pulling away from home and heading whichever direction would take us to our destination: there was something exciting, something new and fresh that would energize me. (Fortunate for me, since it was usually ridiculously early!) We've all experienced this when we start a new job in a new company: those first hundred days or so - the so-called "honeymoon" period - are a time of meeting new people, testing your skills at a new assignment, your boss usually pulling for you to succeed (at least most bosses!). Or maybe you've started a business and despite the daunting pressure of getting things moving, the newness of it carries you through those first days with an enthusiasm and energy you may not always have at your disposal when the going gets tough after that fresh beginning. At least that's been my general experience throughout my life.
And so we begin this first Sunday, this first day of Advent, with that special enthusiasm and energy endemic to the freshness of the beginning of the Church Year. What makes this beginning special, something that will carry over through all of Advent? You know: Christmas. Christmas, the day we celebrate the Incarnation, marks the beginning of a new life for mankind, a life lost with the Original Sin of Adam and Eve, a life longed for throughout the centuries leading up to that first Christmas, a longing so beautifully captured in the yearning of God's Chosen People for the Messiah, as we read in the Old Testament. So many centuries waiting and watching, so many prophets reminding their people to prepare, to repent when they had sinned, to ready themselves for the coming of the Messiah. And then, in a moment, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and with his announcement of God's intentions for her and Our Blessed Mother's acceptance of God's desire for her to carry His Child in her womb and give birth to the Messiah, at that moment the Word Made Flesh dwelt amongst us, to be made manifest for all to see on that first Christmas Day.
It's time to remember those centuries of waiting and yearning. Take time to contemplate what it must have been like for the Chosen People who were promised a Savior, a Redeemer, a Messiah, a fresh beginning. Remember how many times they fell from grace by their sins, how many times God sent his prophets to shake them from the misery of their sins, how many times God forgave them their sins, just as he does with each and every one of us during our journey in this life. Make a good confession at least once during this Holy Season of Advent, especially if you've committed any grave sin and you yourself have fallen from grace.
We've all been given the chance for a new start on this first day of the Church's New Year. Of all those times when the freshness of beginnings swept us up and energized us to take on the task at hand with a renewed enthusiasm, this must be the greatest time, this Holy Season of Advent. Prepare in a spirit of penance. Get ready for the coming of your Redeemer, your Savior, your new life in the graces that flooded this weary world on that great day of His Incarnation, and His birth on Christmas morning.
Don't let the freshness of the beginning of Advent be lost in the busy swirl of your daily life. And what can capture this freshness of beginning better than our traditional hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel. We present one version here to help get you "in the mood" of Advent. It's the perfect antidote for the avalanche of "holiday music" that will probably assault you during the coming weeks.
I've always liked beginnings, both the freshness and newness. Whenever we would pack everyone up for a road trip, those first moments of making sure everyone was in the car, that we had all our suitcases and packages, turning the key to start up the car engine, pulling away from home and heading whichever direction would take us to our destination: there was something exciting, something new and fresh that would energize me. (Fortunate for me, since it was usually ridiculously early!) We've all experienced this when we start a new job in a new company: those first hundred days or so - the so-called "honeymoon" period - are a time of meeting new people, testing your skills at a new assignment, your boss usually pulling for you to succeed (at least most bosses!). Or maybe you've started a business and despite the daunting pressure of getting things moving, the newness of it carries you through those first days with an enthusiasm and energy you may not always have at your disposal when the going gets tough after that fresh beginning. At least that's been my general experience throughout my life.
And so we begin this first Sunday, this first day of Advent, with that special enthusiasm and energy endemic to the freshness of the beginning of the Church Year. What makes this beginning special, something that will carry over through all of Advent? You know: Christmas. Christmas, the day we celebrate the Incarnation, marks the beginning of a new life for mankind, a life lost with the Original Sin of Adam and Eve, a life longed for throughout the centuries leading up to that first Christmas, a longing so beautifully captured in the yearning of God's Chosen People for the Messiah, as we read in the Old Testament. So many centuries waiting and watching, so many prophets reminding their people to prepare, to repent when they had sinned, to ready themselves for the coming of the Messiah. And then, in a moment, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and with his announcement of God's intentions for her and Our Blessed Mother's acceptance of God's desire for her to carry His Child in her womb and give birth to the Messiah, at that moment the Word Made Flesh dwelt amongst us, to be made manifest for all to see on that first Christmas Day.
It's time to remember those centuries of waiting and yearning. Take time to contemplate what it must have been like for the Chosen People who were promised a Savior, a Redeemer, a Messiah, a fresh beginning. Remember how many times they fell from grace by their sins, how many times God sent his prophets to shake them from the misery of their sins, how many times God forgave them their sins, just as he does with each and every one of us during our journey in this life. Make a good confession at least once during this Holy Season of Advent, especially if you've committed any grave sin and you yourself have fallen from grace.
We've all been given the chance for a new start on this first day of the Church's New Year. Of all those times when the freshness of beginnings swept us up and energized us to take on the task at hand with a renewed enthusiasm, this must be the greatest time, this Holy Season of Advent. Prepare in a spirit of penance. Get ready for the coming of your Redeemer, your Savior, your new life in the graces that flooded this weary world on that great day of His Incarnation, and His birth on Christmas morning.
Don't let the freshness of the beginning of Advent be lost in the busy swirl of your daily life. And what can capture this freshness of beginning better than our traditional hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel. We present one version here to help get you "in the mood" of Advent. It's the perfect antidote for the avalanche of "holiday music" that will probably assault you during the coming weeks.
Divine Infant of Bethlehem, come and take birth in our hearts.
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