In Advent the Church prepares for the two “comings” of our King, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The first coming is the annual celebration of His coming in history; Jesus born of Mary as the prophets foretold. The second coming is His coming in Majesty, at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. Today is the First Sunday of the new Liturgical Year, and the start of the Season of Advent. The readings are filled with images of waiting in readiness for our Lord. We must be prepared, as we do not know when He will return in glory.
We may also consider a third coming: His arrival in the Paschal Mystery⎯in the Word and Sacrament and in the members of the Assembly (we, the Body of Christ). We participate in this “coming” every day of our lives. The coming of Jesus into our hearts is a life-long process by which we are eventually judged.
Last weekend we celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King. The image of the Crown of Christ comes down from the cross to become the symbol of the next season: The Advent Wreath. Today we light the Advent Wreath⎯an image of a circle of light. Many things may be represented by this Advent circle-symbol: enduring union, rings (God’s everlasting love), safety (the circle of family and friends), protection, (circle the wagons!). The circle of the Crown of Christ the King converted into the circle of the Advent wreath⎯one circle becoming another⎯with all the symbols (enduring love, safety and protection) that this circle implies. One season flows to the next; everything is made new. This is the hope of our belief in the face of future judgment.
We await the final coming of Christ (In the Day of the Lord); we celebrate His first coming at Christmas, and we live His coming in our hearts every day. As we light our Advent wreaths in Church and at home, we praise God for all the advents of His son: yesterday, today and forever. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, God with us!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
We may also consider a third coming: His arrival in the Paschal Mystery⎯in the Word and Sacrament and in the members of the Assembly (we, the Body of Christ). We participate in this “coming” every day of our lives. The coming of Jesus into our hearts is a life-long process by which we are eventually judged.
Last weekend we celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King. The image of the Crown of Christ comes down from the cross to become the symbol of the next season: The Advent Wreath. Today we light the Advent Wreath⎯an image of a circle of light. Many things may be represented by this Advent circle-symbol: enduring union, rings (God’s everlasting love), safety (the circle of family and friends), protection, (circle the wagons!). The circle of the Crown of Christ the King converted into the circle of the Advent wreath⎯one circle becoming another⎯with all the symbols (enduring love, safety and protection) that this circle implies. One season flows to the next; everything is made new. This is the hope of our belief in the face of future judgment.
We await the final coming of Christ (In the Day of the Lord); we celebrate His first coming at Christmas, and we live His coming in our hearts every day. As we light our Advent wreaths in Church and at home, we praise God for all the advents of His son: yesterday, today and forever. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, God with us!
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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