Veni, Veni Emmanuel!
Captivum solve Israel!
"O come O come Emmanuel!
And ransom captive Israel!"
Despite being the first day of the new liturgical year, Advent begins without fanfare on the first of the four Sundays before December 24th. It ends with the joyful commemoration of Jesus’ flesh and blood arrival into this world. Advent ends celebrating that Jesus, fully God and fully man, was born into and lived on the same planet, on which we live and breathe, study and work, celebrate and mourn.
The word Advent derives from two Latin roots: ad and venire which mean “to come to.” But the literal translation of the rootsdoes not convey the truth and reality of Advent. In his book Benedictus, Pope Benedict XVI explained that advent is the Latin translation of the Greek word parousia which means presence, but even more specifically means arrival. Arrival is the beginning of another’s presence but it is not the fullness of that presence.
Consider a child. The moment the mother’s pregnancy is known the world changes. And that world never returns to what it was, even if the child is the victim of an abortion. The presence of that child in the world, even if it was brief such as a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death changes the world in ways that can never be fully appreciated. This is particularly true of the world inhabited by the parents, grandparents, and the rest of the family and friends.
A child’s presence is apparent with a woman’s first awareness that she is pregnant. The news of that presence ripples out to the wider world such that the child is present in the lives of his or her parents, grandparents, and others. That presence ripples out as the date of birth nears. Birth makes the child’s presence more real to the wider world. But, that presence is never complete, it is always in the process of becoming and evolving.
The presence of another never truly ends. Everyone in the in this chapel is being influenced by the presence of others in their lives who may be far off or dead. Parents. Siblings. Teachers. Mentors. Friends. And others. Their presence influences our lives. Even when present only in memory they may influence what we decide, how we act, and the choices we make. Their presence in our lives--be it tangible or remembered-- may soothe and comfort us during times of stress.
Alas, for some, that presence may be the source of continuing anxiety and pain. No matter if it is comforting or painful, It is impossible NOT to respond to another’s presence. Even ignoring another’s presence is responding to it.
Jesus’ presence is an advent presence. It is a presence that is always a “coming to,” a presence of "coming toward." It is always dynamic. During advent we recall that Jesus is present in this world and is always becoming newly present to this world, He is present in our lives but also becoming newly present in our lives as much as we allow it.
Jesus presence is always a becoming, Advent reminds us that it is the approach of his presence but we have yet to experience the fullness of that presence, a fullness we will only know after we have died.
Jesus is present in our daily lives in three tangible ways. We only have to look, listen, and taste, to experience that three-fold presence.
He is present in the community of believers who participate
in the prayers of the Church, most
particularly in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Jesus is present in the words of the Gospel proclaimed in the assembly of believers and during meditation in the Gospel in the silence of one’s room.
And, Jesus is present most truly and substantially present in the Eucharist, the bread and wine, that will soon be consecrated, broken, and shared.
Advent is not a countdown of shopping days until December 24.
Advent is not the time to prepare for a holiday.
Advent is the time to prepare for a Holy Day.
Advent is a time to prepare for the commemoration of the birth of the Messiah.
The Christ,
The Anointed One.
We are scanning the horizon for the star that announces the coming into the world of the Son of God, Son of David, and Son of Mary.
We are awaiting the King of Kings and the Prince of Peace, He who is like us in all things but sin.
As we begin Advent we recall that Jesus came toward and into this world to save it and to ransom us from sin and death. Thus we pray. . . .
Veni, Veni Emmanuel!
Captivum solve Israel!
________________________________________________________
All of the photos are from the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in D.C. I went over there frequently for Mass before I was ordained. Celebrated or concelebrated a number of Masses there. It is enormous. Always went over early with the camera.
No comments:
Post a Comment