Imagine you've just received the news. An important guest is coming to visit you. Perhaps it's an old friend, a beloved family member, or even someone famous. What do you do? Most likely, you clean the house, prepare a meal, and ensure everything is right. You want to create a warm and welcoming space for their arrival.
The word Advent comes from the Latin "adventus," meaning "arrival" or "coming." In this season of Advent, we focus on three ways Jesus comes to us. First, over 2,000 years ago, Jesus entered human history as a baby, born in Bethlehem, born of Mary. This is what we celebrate at Christmas, the Incarnation, God becoming human like us and his name is Emmanuel, "God with us." Second, Jesus comes to us here and now, today in our lives. He comes through the Word of God proclaimed, in the Eucharist, and the people around us. Jesus knocks on the doors of our hearts and desires to enter our own histories and our lives. Third, Jesus will come again in glory at the end of time to establish His eternal kingdom. This is the coming we profess in the Creed: "His Kingdom will have no end... He will come again to judge the living and the dead." Advent calls us to live with hope and vigilance, looking not only to the past and the present but also to the future. As Jesus says in today's Gospel, "Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand."
Advent reminds us that Jesus comes to us, knocks on the door of our hearts, and waits for our response. As the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." His presence spans all of time, inviting us to prepare our hearts to receive Him in every moment of our lives.
How do we prepare for this threefold coming of Jesus? Just as we tidy our homes for a guest, Advent invites us to clean the clutter of sin from our hearts. Seek the Sacrament of Confession and let go of grudges, distractions, and anything that keeps us from welcoming Jesus fully. As we light the first candle of the Advent wreath, let it be a reminder that Jesus is the Light who dispels all darkness. But preparation is not just about removing the bad but also about filling our lives with good. Spend some time in prayer, meditate on the Scriptures, and perform acts of kindness.
Advent is not a time of frantic preparation like the commercialized version of Christmas. Advent is a season of joyful anticipation, a time to remember that God's greatest gift, Jesus, is already given to us. It is about preparing, opening our hearts to receive Him. We prepare our hearts with the same care, joy, and love we would for the most important guest. NQ