This first Sunday of Advent has us looking for signs and calls us to be vigilant so that we will have the strength to stand tall in Christ amidst the challenges in life. Examine how you see the world; reconnect with the Lord despite the struggles. The message of Advent is a challenge and we are asked to wait in joyful hope. God can make his grace known to us in simple ways.
While Advent is set aside to commemorate Jesus’ coming in the flesh, as well as to look ahead to his final coming in glory, it is also a time for us to open ourselves to the Lord’s coming into our lives and our world today. The question is “when are we going to see him in these unique times of ours?”
We need to be alert and watchful. We are so future-oriented that we frequently forget the present entirely. We spend too much time trying to protect ourselves against future misfortunes. We need to be more spiritually wakeful to prepare for our eternal life. With the challenges we have faced this past year, political tensions, social unrest, and the pandemic, many people are ready to close out 2020. During the time of the pandemic, we have watched and realized we have taken for granted our ability
to worship and receive our Lord in the Eucharist. We have experienced the absence of social gatherings, but also have been able to adapt to these changes together. During our isolation, we have recognized our deep sense of belonging; our fear of social unrest has us wondering where our God is.
I am a senior now and it has been a stressful year with college applications, virtual school, and sports. With all that is going on in the world and the obstacles I face, I still take the time to stop, to seek God’s presence, even in the most troubling times. It is important to see through the negatives, and it takes courage to find the good. These times have displayed human kindness, sacrifice, and unity. As a member of the Teen Advisory Board, we have adapted our events in ways that we can still help the community. So far, I am grateful to have been able to lector for teen masses, organize coats for the
clothing drive, and now am in the midst of planning a virtual retreat. We have to persevere. These times test our willingness to spread God's love and be able to adapt our actions in a way that allows us to still make a difference. I am hopeful, hopeful for a vaccine, hopeful for families who struggle, and also mourn for the families who have lost loved ones.
Today’s Gospel reminds us that Advent is about more than our preparation for the Church’s celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas. Our faithfulness to God, through the good times as well as the difficult times, shows us to be ready. So let us take this opportunity to pray - to sharpen our vision of God’s presence in our daily lives.