SEASON OF ADVENT

           We celebrate Advent before Christmas and Epiphany. Yet, this season actually developed a little later in history. When we understand what the Church was celebrating in Christmas and Epiphany we are better able to appreciate the reasons to have a worthy preparation for this season this season. In Christmas and Epiphany we celebrate the coming of the Lord Jesus to the world and this season of Advent is primarily to prepare for the celebration of Christmas and Epiphany. Yet this season of Advent is not limited to the preparation for the celebration of Lord’s birth. It is rather a season reminding us of our redemption and of the second coming of the Lord Jesus in power and majesty as judge of all. From the beginning, Advent has been eschatological, looking forward to the day of the Lord.

         The Church understands Advent as the season of hope and expectation where the Old Testament prophecy of Messiah and the New Testament second coming of Christ is put in the one season of four weeks.

         John the Baptist is considered as the patron saint of Advent who prepared the people for the first coming of the Lord and the role of the John the Baptist is seen as important in this this time. Thus we can say the season of Advent is the season of preparation of Lord’s coming. This season is not penitential in tone as the season of Lent but the main concern of Advent is to help the Christian community to banish preoccupations in order to prepare for a fuller celebration of Christmas and for a deeper awareness of the second coming of the Lord.

         This season is also important as the season of expectation of the Messiah, especially the messianic time where God will do good things to bad people. In this sense the great portion of Advent is rather reflected on the role of Mary who was physically expecting the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world and she is considered as the patroness of this season.

          As we begin our new liturgical year let us prepare ourselves spiritually with hope and expectation to celebrate this season and to have a fruitful Christmas celebration this time.

By - Dilan Rojan

jdrojan@gmail.com