We are seven days before Christmas. For several weeks now, we have been journeying during Advent in order to
prepare for the coming of Christmas. When I was getting ready for the Advent season, I came across a brochure issued
by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops entitled: “Advent: Joy and Hope
– We look forward with joy to the coming of Jesus.” I had explained to the liturgy committee that I wanted to emphasize joy and
hope during this Advent season, since I felt that this was an aspect of Advent
that we perhaps neglected and overlooked. Advent is indeed a solemn season, a serious season, a season where we are
called to repentance and renewal and reconciliation. But it is a joyful season as well. The situation Joseph was faced with in today’s Gospel was quite serious. We can only imagine the anxiety and concern
and tension that he felt in the situation that he and Mary faced. Yes, Advent is a time of preparation for us, of making straight a path in the
arrival of the Lord into our world.
G.
Luke tells us that this fulfills what the prophet foretold, that the Virgin
would give birth to a child who will be called Emmanuel, which means “God is
with us.” Indeed, Advent is a time where we not only prepare for the coming of the Lord,
but it is also a time in which we contemplate the way God is with us. That’s important to keep in mind, to remember that Emmanuel means that “God is with us” – not “God will soon be
with us” or “God is on the way.” Sometimes, with what is going on in our lives and what we see going on in the
world, it is easy to forget that “God is with us.” We are indeed connected with God, but sometimes that connection can seem far
away, can’t it? God comes to us through Jesus’ nativity, but God is always with us and he is
present throughout human history in many different ways. As we are only a week away from Christmas, I pray that all of us may be aware
of the ways God is with us, the ways God is working in our lives.
Let
us pray:
Lord,
you are always here with us.
You
always come to us,
No
matter what the season.
Wherever
we are on our journey,
Whatever
we are doing,
Whatever
we are feeling,
No
matter what ups and downs we are experiencing,
May
we always have knowledge of your presence with us, Lord,
Amen.
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