Welcome to Advent!!!

We have now begun a new liturgical season and a new Church year. The season of Advent is one calling us to presence—both in awareness and participation.

We are called to become aware of the coming presence of our Lord as he takes on human flesh. Just over 8 months ago, on March 25, we celebrated the Annunciation—the conception of the Son of God in the womb of Mary. And now as we draw closer to Christmas Day, we stop to meditate upon his presence in our lives.

In the same way, we are called to make ourselves become actively present. We are called to be present to Christ by presenting ourselves in prayer, both communally and personally. We are called to enliven our participation in Mass and also enhance our offering of self in prayer. As in any relationship, if we are to come closer to God, we must turn to him in conversation, both verbally (speaking ourselves) and silently (listening to the words he speaks to us).

We are also called to make Christ present to everyone we encounter day by day since Christ has come not only to dwell with us, but also in us (hence, the Eucharist). Thus, we are called this season to dwell more intensely on the words of Saint Paul: “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).