FW 52-53:issue 3 12/05/2009 10:01 Page 52
Faith & Policy
Coming of Age
– an Advent reflection
C
elebrate Christ’s birth and anticipate his coming in this
pre-Christmas season
Advent has been observed since at least the While all this sounds very cosmic and indeed
fourth century. Originally, it was a time when it is, Christ also comes to each of us in grace
converts to Christianity prepared themselves as our Saviour, speaking to us in our hearts.
for baptism. During the Middle Ages, it We experience him in the Eucharist and he is
became associated with preparation for the proclaimed in the Scriptures. Throughout
Second Coming of Jesus. In early days it our lives he comes to us in a variety of ways,
lasted from 11 November, the feast of St in the people we meet and the experiences
Martin, until Christmas Day, and was we have; whether they feel positive or
considered a pre-Christmas ‘penitential negative, he is there at the centre of each
season’ when Christians devoted themselves moment. Christ calls to us so we must be
to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. In modern ready to receive and welcome him
times, however, it has come to be seen as a whenever he comes, however he comes.
time of anticipating the birth of Jesus and
the celebrations of Christmas Day. At the moment, we live in an in-between
period – between the two comings – and
Advent comes from the Latin word for an this waiting is at the heart of our
‘arrival’ or a ‘coming’, so ‘Advent’ means that understanding of Advent. We wait in
the Lord is coming. Jesus came to expectation since Christ, risen from the
Bethlehem at a specific time in history with a dead and now present among us in
particular purpose and mission: mystery, will be revealed to everyone
– salvation for all people and in on the Last Day as the glorious
all periods of history son of our heavenly Father.
– a lifestyle based on values However it is very easy to
that would bridge this stay in the past, to focus
world with the next on Christ’s birth as an
– to provide eternal life in historical event, rather
the spirit. than as a new and lived
reality. So this Advent
As the Alpha and Omega, let’s consider the
he will also come again to presence of Christ and
judge the living and the how his presence
dead at the end time. can deepen our faith.
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