We are in the season of Advent. In the ancient world the word indicated the visit of the king or emperor to a province; in the Christian world it means “coming of God”, His presence in the world; a mystery that fully involves the cosmos and history, and two culminating moments: the first and the second coming of Jesus Christ. The first is the Incarnation itself; the second is the glorious return at the end of time.
Pope Benedict XVI, speaking of Advent, said: “These two moments, which are chronologically distant – and do not know how much – touch us deeply, because with his death and resurrection Jesus has already accomplished the transformation of man and the cosmos—that is the ultimate goal of creation. But by the end, it is necessary that the Gospel be proclaimed to all nations, Jesus said in the Gospel of Mark (Mk 13:10). “
Have we set up the crib and light the green candle crown of Advent; the garland is green because it is a sign of hope and life, adorned with a red ribbon symbolizing the love of God that surrounds us, and also the manifestation of our love, which is looking forward the birth of the Son of God.
Hope is the theological virtue, given by God. “It is in hope we were saved”, says Saint Paul to the Romans and to us as well (Rom 8:24). It is with this hope that we can face the materialistic world that fights against the spirit, without losing heart. St. Peter asks us if we are “prepared to present to others the reason for our hope” (1 Peter 3:15). Man needs a hope that goes beyond science and policy to be happy. It is not enough to have the “kingdom of man”, you need the “Kingdom of God”. Only something infinite can be enough, something that will always be more than what we can achieve. A world without God is a world without hope (cf. Eph 2:12).
The Catechism teaches us that: “Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire our happiness as the kingdom of heaven and eternal life, putting our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength but in the grace of relief Holy Spirit. “(§ 1817)
The lit the Advent candles symbolize our faith, our joy, our hope that does not disappoint. All will be lit by the God who comes. Jesus, the great Light, “the light that enlightens every man that cometh into the world” (Jn 1,9); is coming, so we waited with the lights because we love him and we want to be like Him, light. To be a Christian is to be “alter Christus,” another Christ that is consumed as a candle to illuminate the darkness of the world.
The first Sunday of Advent reminds us that forgiveness was offered to Adam and Eve, we are not left to the power of death. They died in the land, but will live in God. Jesus became the son of Adam, without ceasing to be your God, to save him.
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples: “Your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life … watch at all times praying” (Luke 21,34.36). Therefore, sobriety and prayer. St. Paul invites us to “grow and avantajar in love” among ourselves and with all to make our firm and blameless heart in holiness (cf. 1 Thes 3.12 to 13).
More than a crib and the Christmas tree, prepare your heart with the hope that overcomes everything. “We continue to affirm our hope, because it is He who is faithful makes the promise.” (Hebrews 10.23). Paul says to the Thessalonians: you must not “grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
Prof. Felipe Aquino