First Sunday of Advent

Readings of the Day 

Anticipation – that’s the word that comes to me as I pray over the readings for this first day of Advent. 

Seems to me that our society begins preparing to celebrate Christmas earlier each year.  This autumn, as supply chain problems threaten the fulfillment of wish lists, the commercialism surrounding this holiday has geared up particularly early: in some venues, even before Halloween!  Similarly, I was appalled to see that some of my neighbors had their Christmas lights shining in the first week of November.  I guess that’s one version of anticipation.

In today’s gospel, Jesus says that “people will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world”, but we in the ministry of charity have no such fear.  Our anticipation is joyful expectation, because we are secure in the knowledge that on the day of the Lord everything toward which we have been striving will be achieved.  The hungry will be satisfied and the homeless sleep in warmth and security.  The confused and the lonely will know clarity and companionship.  Immigrants will find their home and those who weep will be comforted.

But beyond anticipation of the good things to come, we in our work of advocacy and service are the fulfillment of the promise itself to those whose lives we touch.  We are among the faithful who pray to be shown the paths of kindness and constancy, even while we walk upon them.  While we wait for justice, we work for justice. 

Let us begin this season of anticipation grateful that we have been strengthened to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.  Amen.

Having retired after a career of over 30 years in the Catholic Charities network, Jean Beil now serves as the Regional Coordinator for Caritas North America.

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