Holy Spiritual Fathers and Mothers over the centuries have taught us that the Church celebrates Advent to prepare for THREE comings of Christ!...
The first is, of course, his coming among us at Christmas that we will celebrate Dec. 25:
However, at the beginning of Advent and at the beginning of this new Liturgical Year, Holy Mother Church calls our attention even more to the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST that we hear about in readings at Mass this week: Christ will come in glory to judge the living and the dead.
So in the light of the first and the second coming we can understand and LIVE THE THIRD COMING – CHRIST COMES AND IS HERE NOW…
Maybe that sounds like beautiful even mystical theology that is too much for US… NO… this third coming means simply THAT HE COMES TO US, HE REALLY WANTS TO COME TO US, TO BE WITH US EACH DAY, IN SIMPLE AND EVERYDAY WAYS! Advent is about that… simply trying to be attentive, to be open to Him, to receive Him. … We buy and give each other Christmas presents because He gives himself to us and he wants us to give him to others. When we get together to share friendship, family and Christmas Joy, HE HIMSELF IS THE JOY, THE LOVE WE SHARE… We have only to open our eyes and our hearts to him. The Peace that comes on the earth at this time of the year IS CHRIST OUR PEACE.
Holy Mother, you are the one who brings Jesus to us. Help us to know this, to experience this third coming more and more and to share it especially in our homes, in our families.
