Dear Friends,
This weekend we enter the beautiful season of Advent - a sacred time whose very name,
adventus, means ìcomingî or ìarrival.î For the early Church, Advent was not simply a countdown to Christmas; it was a season of deep spiritual preparation. It was marked by prayer, quiet expectation, and even a spirit of penanceósomething like a gentle, anticipatory Lent before the joy of Christ's birth.
For centuries, Christians approached Advent with reverence and interior readiness, preparing not only their homes but their hearts for Emmanuel, God-with-us.
A Shift in Our Culture
But as we know, times have changed. Today, the holiday season often begins long before the first purple candle is lit. Decorations, advertisements, and holiday music surround us weeks - sometimes months - in advance. The beauty of family, friendship, and generosity continues to shine, yet these themes are often disconnected from their Christian roots: the coming of the Savior, the One whose birth transforms history.
None of these cultural celebrations are wrong. Many bring joy, connection, and warmth. But they can easily
drown out the still, small voice calling us to "prepare the way of the Lord."
The Meaning of Advent Darkness in our Advent Liturgy:
One powerful symbol we keep as a parish is the way our Advent liturgies begin in semi-darkness. This is not theatricalóit is deeply biblical and profoundly meaningful.
Scripture offers us a mysterious promise in Isaiah 45:3, where God speaks to Cyrus the Great:
"I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, so that you
may know that it is I, the Lord."
