Advent and the Second Coming of Christ

[The following is an article that was written by my wife for her school's quarterly newsletter. I think she's done a fabulous job of piercing through the many layers of our faith, and that she's presented some great insights for prayer. I know, I'm biased!]

From the week of Thanksgiving until Christmas, I tend to become absorbed in the trends of our modern culture. I get caught up in the excitement of finding the best deals on gifts, thinking of goodies I would like to have, and so on. As Christmas draws nearer, I begin to realize that I have spent lots of time and attention providing for my own desires, and not enough time preparing my soul for the coming of Christ. For example, I recently noticed that I was thinking about clothes while I was supposed to be focused on the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass! So I must ask myself, “If the Second Coming were to take place on Black Friday, would Jesus find me to be a truly righteous person whom He would gladly welcome into Heaven?”

What does the Second Coming have to do with Advent? The word from which the season gets it name is derived from a Latin word, advenio, which means to come. There are three comings of Christ, and Catholics prepare for all three during this liturgical season (from the Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle through the Christmas Vigil Mass). Not only do we spend these weeks preparing our bodies, minds, and souls for the anniversary of His first coming in Bethlehem, but we also prepare for the daily advent of Christ in our hearts through prayer and the sacraments (especially the Eucharist). Finally, we are reminded that we must prepare for His Second Coming.

St. Charles Borromeo wrote about Advent that “our hearts should be as much prepared for the coming of Christ as if he were still to come into this world.” Everything that the Church does during the Advent season reflects this need for conversion as well as Christ’s desire that we are saints (holy ones) upon His return. For this purpose, the Church prescribes a variety of visual and audible reminders to faithful. Specific examples include the liturgical colors, the Advent wreath, the Lectionary Readings and prescribed prayers, the celebration of important feast days, and sacred songs used during this season.

The color violet (“purple” to most) signifies preparation and penitence. The color rose is used on Gaudete Sunday (the third Sunday of Advent) to express the joy (gaudium in Latin) that Christ is imminent. These colors are used on the altar, worn by priests and deacons, and present on the Advent Wreath. Remember also that the Advent wreath symbolizes the newness and freshness of Christ because it is an evergreen; and it symbolizes the light of Christ that will not cease by the use of the candles.

The Gospel readings of the season focus on the theme of preparing for the coming of Christ and the joyful anticipation of His arrival. During the First Sunday in Advent, Christ reminds listeners to “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” On the Second and Third Sundays, St. John the Baptist preaches to the people: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4) and “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming” (Luke 3:16). On the Fourth Sunday, St. Elizabeth reveals to Mary that “at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Luke 2:44-45). These examples do not even include the numerous references that come from the Old Testament.

Additionally, pay close attention to the prayers recited during Mass: the Opening Prayer, Eucharistic Prayer, and Closing Prayer in particular. Further, listen to the lyrics of the hymns. One of the most popular and enduring hymns is O Come, O Come, Emanuel. The prayers and hymns will reflect the theme of preparation, and all ask the Lord to come!

The Solemnities of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadeloupe are celebrated during this holy season for specific and significant reasons. First of all, Mary had to be a sinless virgin in order to conceive God-made-Man in her womb and to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies. She is the new Eve, conceived without original sin and sent to reverse the decision that brought sin and death into the world. God prepared his earthly dwelling place at the moment that Mary was conceived, which we celebrate as the Immaculate Conception. At Guadalupe (Tepeyac, more precisely), Mary appeared as a pregnant woman with child. She is clothed in a rose-colored garment, which signifies the long-awaited joy of the coming Savior. As you can see, both feasts prepare humans for the coming of the Lord.

While reflecting on this period of penitence, I cannot fail to mention the importance of the sacrament of Reconciliation. The only way to truly begin to prepare ourselves for change is to recognize our weaknesses, and to get rid of the sins that have damaged or destroyed our relationship with God. By virtue of this, we admit that we need a Savior and His assistance in learning true love. We need Him to help us become saints!

Advent, just as in Lent, is not the only time dedicated to preparation and penance. The hope of the Church is that the faithful will maintain a spirit of continual preparation for the Coming of Christ because we do not know when the Son of Man will come. As Christians, we must ensure that we spend this season praying, fasting, and receiving the sacraments so that on Christmas Day and at the end of time we can joyfully proclaim that Christ has come. Thanks be to God.