The season of Advent is a season of joy, of hope, of preparation and waiting.  Most people think Advent is solely about the birth of the baby Jesus, but in fact it is a combination of waiting for Jesus to come and waiting for Jesus to come AGAIN.  This first week of Advent we are reminded of the second coming of Christ at the end of time.  During Advent our focus is on Jesus and in this focus we are inspired and perfected in our faith.  We can learn what it means to follow Jesus, to be disciples and stewards of God’s gifts.

In our first reading from the prophet Isaiah we have the imagery of that end time when everyone will go to the house of God and learn how to follow God. Isaiah speaks of a time when we live in peace and everyone will follow God’s ways.  This week’s Psalm 122: I Rejoiced, strengthens this prophecy.  This image is highly attractive and desirous, but given our world conditions today it seems impossible to fulfill this prophecy.  The reading from Isaiah combined with the Gospel of Matthew helps us to focus our faith on the last days when Jesus returns and there will be justice and peace.  In focusing on what will be we can cause it to come about because we alter our behavior in such a way as to affect changes within and around ourselves that will bring about the peace and justice that accompany the return of Christ Jesus.

Jesus tells us that we will not know when he will return and so we should be prepared at all times for him.  Preparing for him means asking yourself what you want him to find you doing when he comes again?  Would you want to be fighting with someone or at war?  Or, rather, trying to make peace instead of war, loving and caring for each other, including our love and care of the poor, and treating each other with honesty and fairness?  These are examples that transcend age groups.  Adults and children understand loving and caring for one another.  It sounds very nice to be forgiving, and we all want to be forgiving in nature like Jesus and we all want to be forgiven, but is it nice or easy when the time comes for you to forgive someone? 

We face great challenges in our journey of faith, but we are not alone on our journey.  We have the fellowship and company of our Christian community and our family and friends.  We can use prayer and contemplation to obtain understanding of God’s will and to obtain strength to fulfill that will!  During Advent we internally prepare for the coming of the Lord and the return of the Lord through prayer and penitence and externally by giving of ourselves to others through alms giving.  The liturgical color of purple for Advent is penitential just as it is during Lent.  To be able to receive and understand the will of God in our life and to prepare for the coming of Jesus we must turn away from our sins and our sinful nature and refocus our will and faith toward Jesus. 

In our busy lives it is difficult for people to set aside time with the Lord every day.  During the season of Advent it seems a hundred times harder because we are so busy preparing for Christmas day…the shopping, the cooking, the decorating, the house cleaning, the house guests…what a hectic time!!  We work so hard in preparation for Christmas day.  Oh, if we only worked that hard in preparation for the coming of Jesus.  What might our world be like?  Why not refocus yourself this Advent.  Pick up an Advent guidebook in the Narthex after mass.  Spend some time each day of Advent focusing on Jesus, the “reason for the season”.  An Advent wreath is a wonderful way for the entire family to step away from the secular mayhem and find peace in Jesus!  Spending time each day, perhaps as you sit down to family dinner, to light the Advent candle on your wreath and reflect on the advent prayers will make a difference in your life that affects others in a positive way.  Don’t forget our brothers and sisters in need…add them to your shopping lists for food and gifts!  On those days that you don’t have time to set aside for God, remember that He is ALWAYS with you.  Maybe you can’t physically stop, but you can talk to God as you move!  During Advent and every day of our lives we are waiting in joyful hope for the coming of our Lord.  Make this a reality in your life everyday!