Advent Season of Hope

12-03-2017Weekly ReflectionFather Tony Okolo, CSSp

What do you do when someone you love very dearly and miss very much has been gone a verylong time but promises to return soon? How do you prepare to welcome him/her? Naturally, we anticipate the return with great excitement getting ready with all we can to ensure that on his arrival we are seen in a very good situation. We would be glad that this person finds us happy, joyful and looking good. This is what the season of Advent is all about, getting ready to welcomethe Lord at Christmas with joy, happiness and excitement. The joy and excitement that is rooted inthe word of God that should inspire our every act.

This Sunday begins the season of advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year. The season reminds us of the time we wait in hope for the coming of the Lord at Christmas and anticipate his second coming at the end of the time. Advent calls to mind that we are living in the end times.While the second coming of the Lord Jesus is certain, the time of his appearance is not yet disclosed.

Jesus warns us today in the gospel not to be caught off guard when that day arrives. He wants usto be ready at all times because his coming is certain but when, how and where are not known butsurely he will arrive someday. How happy and blessed we shall be when he meets us doing goodthings. It means that life becomes a preparation to meet the Lord at any time. When we expectsome very important event to happen, we often wait for it with excited anticipation. The Lord Jesusexpects us to watch with great anticipation for the most important event of all his return in glory atthe end of this present age. We are not only to watch for Christ but we are to watch with Christ. Weare to be active carrying out our daily activities with diligence and vigilance. The Lord wants us tohave our minds and our hearts fixed on him and his word. He wants us to be ready for his actionand work of grace in our lives and in our world. Those who wait for the Lord will never be disappointed. He will surely come with his grace and saving help. Do you watch for the Lord’s action in your life with expectant faith and joyful hope?

dvent is also a season of hope. Hope that Our Lord comes to live among us; as one of us in human form. Hope, because we believe that our true and final happiness lies in heaven. Hope, thatour discouragement will turn into strength and our anxiety will turn into joy by his coming. Hope,that his coming ushers in a renewal of spirit and heart. Hope, in the sense that Christ’s comingdrives away despair and presumption. For according to Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, “When we hope, we trust in God. When we despair or presume, we choose to trustourselves instead.” We need to hope in God and heaven not as heartwarming pieties, but as ourreal and final home. When we do, we will see that there’s no more room for despair, no time forsloth, but an open vista of joy before us.

Let this season of advent be a time we draw much closer to God through prayer and acts of charityknowing that God will give us the grace we need. May we always remember that we are pilgrims inthis world. We tend to forget about it, but hope is both “the confident expectation of divine blessing and the beatific vision of God.”

Happy Season of Advent to you all and may the blessings of God, which comes during this season, bring abundant fruits of the Holy Spirit especially of love and joy in your families, and mayour Mother Mary always intercede for you and your families.