Not Yet Christmas

Today, the Church celebrates the First Sunday of Advent. Notice that Christmas is not included in that title, nor is it for the remainder of the liturgical season of Advent, even though much of the world around us is already acting like Christmas is here. I am in Rome right now, and even here, many places are decorated for Christmas. As Catholic Christians, though, we should know that Advent comes first, and cannot be forgotten as an important and necessary prelude to the joy of the Christmas season, which lasts not one day but a little over two weeks until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Advent (from "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to") begins the Liturgical Year, and encompasses the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas on December 25.

The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. From the earliest days of the Church, people have been fascinated by Jesus’ promise to come back. But the scripture readings during Advent tell us not to waste our time with predictions. Advent is not about speculation. Our Advent readings call us to be alert and ready, not weighted down and distracted by the cares of this world (Lk 21:34-36). Like Lent, the liturgical color for Advent is purple since both are seasons that prepare us for great feast days. Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting, and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas.

The final days of Advent, from December 17 to December 24, we focus on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord at Christmas. In particular, the "O" Antiphons are sung during this period and have been by the Church since at least the eighth century. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming of Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but of present ones as well. One might recognize them in their incorporation into the popular carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”.

All this to say that Advent is a month-long time of preparation and building anticipation for the Birth of our Savior. At OLMC, you’ll experience this building anticipation each week at Mass as the prayers said at the Mass build in their anticipatory tone, the candles of the Advent wreath progress, and other decorations are gradually added week by week. I encourage you to live out the season of Advent in your life by not beginning your festivities early like so many around us, and instead recognizing the treasure to be found in this season of almost, but not yet Christmas.