Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,
Happy Advent! I find that the sudden change of liturgical seasons provides a welcome jolt to the soul. We are creatures of habit, and we know how easily routines can devolve into spiritual ruts, where we feel as if we were spinning our wheels. Advent begins a new liturgical year and promises a fresh encounter with our Incarnate Lord, as well.
Advent means “arrival” or “appearance,” and in this season we reflect on Christ’s first coming in humility and his future second coming in glory. Christ is coming towards us—look at the stance of Christ in the Divine Mercy image that sits above the confessional door on the St. Joseph side of the church. He is approaching us, not threateningly, but with his hand raised in blessing.
We know that Christ is approaching us, but how about us? What is our stance towards him? The opening prayer of the Mass of the 1st Sunday of Advent gives us an answer: “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.” We pray for the resolve to sprint to Christ! Far from sitting back and waiting for Christ, we should be moving eagerly towards him. We are advancing towards him if we are actively deepening our spiritual lives, preparing ourselves well for Sunday Mass, confessing our sins regularly, and seeking to obey his commandments. I encourage all of us to use this Advent season to stretch our spiritual legs and warm up our souls to ready ourselves for the sprint towards Christ when he comes.
In Christ,
Fr. Dave
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