First of all, I would like to tell you something. Remember in the 23rd Chapter of St. Matthew, when Jesus is berating the Jews for their blindness when treating the Prophets, how they killed them, and generally ignored everything the Prophets tried to tell them. He goes on to say that the temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed, and they will be left desolate. Then He gives them this notice: "For I say to you, you shall not see me henceforth till you say: 'Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord'" Then Chapter 24 starts with: 'And Jesus being come out of the temple, went away.' He is leaving the temple of the Jews in the dust and starting a new beginning for believers. Behold, He makes all things new.
The Masses for Advent strike a note of preparation and repentance mingled with joy and hope; hence, although the penitential color of violet is worn and the Gloria is omitted, the joyous Alleluia is retained. The readings from the Old Testament contained in the Introit, Gradual, Offertory, and Communion of the Masses, taken mostly from the prophecies of Isaias and from the Psalms, give eloquent expression to the longing of all nations for a Redeemer. We are impressed by repeated and urgent appeals to the Messias: "Come, delay no longer." The Lessons from St. Paul urge us to dispose ourselves fittingly for His coming. The Gospels describe the terrors of the Last Judgment, foretell the second coming, and tell of the preaching of St. John the Baptist 'to prepare the way of the Lord.' The idea of Advent is 'Prepare you for the coming of Christ.' Therefore the very appeals of the Patriarchs and Prophets are put in our mouths in Advent. Prepare for the coming of Christ, the Redeemer, Who comes to prepare us for His second coming as Judge. (Taken from the Missal of the Traditional Mass)
In the readings of this day, we will hear about the end of things once again. However, I am going to try to help us in this preparation. We are to fast, abstain, pray, and, moreover, to ready ourselves for the coming of our Lord.
The book of Isaias, he foretells the falling away of the Faith,:
'...Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken: "I have brought up children, and exalted them; but they have despised me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood. Woe to the sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a wicked seed, ungracious children. They have forsaken the Lord, they have blasphemed the holy One of Israel, they are gone away backwards...'
We are in dire need of some kind of help, and our Lord has it all at our disposal, if we but ask and are sincere. Remember, all things and times are simultaneously happening forever in front of God, Who is in charge of all.
St. Bernard says there are three comings: "In the first coming, He comes in the Flesh and in weakness; in the second in Spirit and power; in the third, He comes in glory and in majesty; and the second coming is the means whereby we pass from the first to the third."
An explanation is given to us by Peter of Blois, when he gave his third sermon of Advent:
'There are three comings of our Lord; the first in the flesh, the second in the soul, the third at the judgment. The first was at midnight, according to those words of the Gospel: 'At midnight there was a cry made, Lo the Bridegroom cometh! But this first coming is long since past, for Christ has been seen on the earth and has conversed among men. We are now in the second coming, provided only we are such as that He may thus come to us; for He has said that if we love Him, He will come unto us and will take His abode with us. So that this second coming is full of uncertainty to us; for who, save the Spirit of God, knows them that are of God? They that are raised out of themselves by the desire of heavenly things, know indeed when He goeth, they know not. As for the third coming, it is most certain that it will be, most uncertain when it will be; for nothing is more sure than death, and nothing less sure than the hour of death. When they shall say, 'peace and security', says the Apostle, then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as the pains upon her that is with child, and they shall not escape. So that the first coming was humble and hidden, the second is mysterious and full of love, the third will be majestic and terrible. In His first coming, Christ was judged by men unjustly; in His second, He renders us just by His grace; in His third, He will judge all things with justice. in His first, a lamb; in His last, a lion; in the one between the two, the tenderest of friends.'
Now, let us listen to our beloved Abbot Gueranger:
On His entering into this world, our divine Saviour first showed Himself under the form of a weak Babe, before attaining the fullness of the age of manhood, and this to the end that nothing might be wanting to His sacrifice, so does He intend to do in us; there is to be a progress in His growth within us. Now, it is at the feast of Christmas that He delights to be born in our souls, and that He pours out over the whole Church a grace of being born, to which, however, not all are faithful.
For this glorious solemnity, as often as it comes around, finds three classes of men. The first, and the smallest number, are those who live, in all its plenitude, the life of Jesus who is within them, and aspire incessantly after the increase of this life. The second class of souls is more numerous; they are living, it is true, because Jesus is in them; but they are sick and weakly, because they care not to grow in this divine life; their charity has become cold! The rest of men make up the third division, and are they that have no part of this life in them, and are dead; for Christ has said: "I am the Life."St. Augustine, when, after a long resistance to the grace which pressed him to give himself to God, resolved to obey the voice which said to him: "Tolle lege"; "take and read." The words from this Sunday's Epistle from St. Paul to the Romans, decided his conversion; he immediately resolved to abandon the worldly life he had up to that point led, and to put on Christ Jesus. Let us begin this very day, and imitate this saint. Let us long for that dear and glorious clothing with which the mercy of our heavenly Father is so soon to cover us; and let us say with the Church these touching words, which we cannot repeat too often during this of the year:
'None of them that wait on thee shall be confounded, O Lord. Show, O Lord, thy ways to me: and teach me thy paths. Alleluia, alleluia. Show us, O Lord, thy mercy: and grant us thy salvation.'
So, during this Advent season, let's find some good reading material. Tolle lege, take and read.
I am going to try to incorporate some thoughts concerning the Advent this year from a book entitled 'Meditations for Advent', published in 1879, but written by Jacques Benigne (1627-1704). Maybe we all get something out of it. Have a fruitful Advent.
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