On the First Sunday of Advent

Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:4-5,8-9,10,14
1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

I grew up in Michigan and my grandmother lived in South Dakota, so we did not see her very often. This made these visits super special. I vividly remember the year my little brother was born for lots of reasons, but chief among them was that Grandma was going to come live with us for a while, as Matthew was the fifth, and Mom was going to need some help.

When I heard she was coming, all I could think about was her smile, her cookies, her homemade bread, her twinkling eyes, and her love for all of us kids. Having to wait weeks for her visit was excruciating.

The more I thought about it, the more I longed to see her. The longer it took, the more impatient I became. But then, she was here and all the things I was hoping for came true, plus a lot more. Like the time she made fresh bread and “accidentally” made too much dough and declared, “I guess I’ll just have to make cinnamon rolls for breakfast.”

The first Sunday of Advent speaks to similar realities, albeit with less sugar and gluten. We hear in the readings about the long-promised Messiah — this promise fulfilled in the personification of God’s love, Jesus, and a new promise: Jesus coming again “in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27).

Like my grandmother living in faraway (to a kid) South Dakota, we can often lose sight of the wonder of Jesus’ presence and forget to savor the promise of His coming again. For this reason, the Church gives us Advent. Every year, we spend four weeks lighting a candle-filled wreath, remembering that God kept His promise to send a savior, and one more promise awaits fulfillment. 

Implicit in this yearly vigil is our need to keep the eyes of our hearts on the horizon. Jesus is coming again, and just like my grandma did all those years ago, He will be fulfilling all our hopes while at the same time exceeding our wildest expectations.

REFLECT ON THIS:

• What was a time you longingly awaited something? What was it like when the waiting was over?
• What is something you plan to do this year to help Christmas be more spiritually meaningful for you and your family?

Find more Advent Reflections here. 

Jeff Hedglen has been working in youth, campus, and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Fort Worth since 1986. He is currently the Director of Campus Ministry for the University Catholic Community at the University of Texas at Arlington. Find his regular columns for the North Texas Catholic here.