The First Sunday of Advent – Sunday, December 3, 2023
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November 30, 2023Dear Parishioners and Friends,
On the first Sunday of Advent the Church begins a new Church year. The Advent season is clearly derived from the Latin word advenire, which is a dynamic, active coming. In the history of salvation God has revealed to us that He comes as the Godman in three specific ways: 1.) The First Coming at the Annunciation at the moment of His conception, and then made manifest at His Birth; 2.) He always stands ready to come into our pure hearts here and now; 3.) He will return at the end of the world. This is His Second Coming.
The major obstacle to having the Lord draw near to us is sin. However, the worst sin is not to reject God, but to refuse to step in His direction, to refuse to come into His light. It is not in falling down that we are condemned, but in failing with God’s amazing grace to get up again and march on. The rejection of the Light is far worse than embracing the darkness, as terrible as that darkness may be. To reject the Light is to turn away from God Who is Love, a love that “endureth forever and ever.” In the Gospel today we hear Jesus proclaim: ‘’Be watchful! Be alert!”
Heaven is for the obedient, not the disobedient, i.e., for the faithful, not the unfaithful. Jesus is the Mediator and Model of fidelity. Through Him, with Him, and in Him we find the answer to our deepest longings.
Jesus comes. Advent re-presents that reality to us. Now is a time of deeper conversion. With tears, we open our hearts to Him. On our knees, we beg Him to come into our hearts, minds, and souls to be happy in this world and forever in the next. A good and faithful Advent will take us in that direction. On Christmas Day may we be able to say that we are living more fully in Christ the light, in fact, we are the light of Christ to others in a real and true way. We have been reborn.
Yours in the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
The Rev. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor
