Come, Lord Jesus: An Advent Reflection
A Message from The Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of Orange
Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,
I was recently rereading a book I have had for some years, a collection of homilies by Karol Cardinal Wojtyla (later Pope John Paul II) titled THE WORD MADE FLESH: The Meaning of the Christmas Season. It has special meaning to me, as it was translated by a good friend from my years in Rome, Leslie Wearne. I would often walk to her home near the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore with chapters of my doctoral dissertation for her to type, and we became good friends.
In a homily for the First Sunday of Advent, then-Cardinal Wojtyla reflected on the spirit of this holy season.
The Joy of Meeting Christ
On November 30, 1974, Cardinal Wojtyla said:
“Let us go with joy to meet Christ. This describes the atmosphere of the mystery of the Incarnation and of Christmas… We all know that meeting with our Lord is the source of joy… This makes Christianity the religion of the Lord’s coming, inasmuch as, while waiting for the Lord’s coming, we actually experience it. His coming unceasingly fills and satisfies our ‘now.’”
These reflections help us to realize that Advent is about the various “comings of Christ”: He has come, He will return again, and He enters our lives daily.
Finding Christ in Our Midst This Advent
This Advent, as with others, offers so many opportunities to experience Him coming to meet us:
- The Novena for Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the actual feast day itself.
- Cultural celebrations like Las Posadas and Simbang Gabi.
- The symbolism of the Advent wreath and calendar.
- The “O” Antiphons, chanted each evening at Vespers as Christmas nears.
- A Special Opportunity: This year offers another profound opportunity to meet the Lord in the Year of Mercy, which opens on December 8th.
Making Time for Him in a Busy Season
How and when are we going to find time and space so that the Lord can meet us, in the midst of this beautiful but exceedingly busy and occupied season? The words of the opening prayer for Mass this past First Sunday of Advent give us some guidance:
“Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom.”
Let us run together to meet Christ this Holy Season. He comes to meet us in expected and not so expected ways!
MARANATHA – COME LORD JESUS!
The Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann
Bishop of Orange