THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

The Good News

...Advent 2004

A basic fact that we must never forget:  “The Lord is with us.”  Yes, whether or not we are aware of God’s presence, He is always with us.  This truth has been revealed to us in countless ways by God Himself.

Since we, as human beings, are weak, fallible and forgetful, the Church establishes a cycle of seasons and feasts each year.  This Liturgical year assists us in living the truth that “The Lord is with us.”

Next Sunday, November 28th, begins a new Liturgical year and the Season of Advent.  The word “advent” means “coming.”  It is a four-week season to prepare us for the proper and devout celebration of Christmas.

Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s birth at Bethlehem. This event which manifests God’s love for us by His coming to live among us and redeem us shows us that the Lord is truly with us.  Christmas is therefore properly celebrated only when we observe the spiritual meaning of the feast.  Consequently, the need for Advent, a time of preparation for the great feast of  Christmas, the coming of Christ among us.

Because we live in a secular society where consumerism thrives, there is always the danger that the season of Advent will be overlooked.  Therefore, by means of this article, I wish to remind you of the Liturgical season of Advent and urge you to take advantage of this time and opportunity.

Since this Advent comes during the recently opened Year of the Eucharist and since the Eucharist is the very heart of our Catholic faith, the Eucharist must be the theme of Advent this year.  I want to urge you and encourage you to make this Advent a very special spiritual time to prepare properly for the celebration of Christmas.  To do this, you need to make a commitment and a sacrifice.  Unless you do that, the Advent season will uneventfully pass away and you will have gained nothing.

For your consideration then, I propose the following:

1. The Church teaches us that we should be in the state of grace when we receive Holy Communion.  The Church also teaches us that the normal way for a Catholic person to receive forgiveness for mortal sin is through Sacramental Absolution.  A humble and a sincere confession is an excellent way to begin our Advent season.

2. As Catholics, we are obliged under pain of mortal sin to participate in the Mass every Sunday.  During the four Sundays of Advent, let us strive to make our participation fuller and more meaningful.  We can do this by reviewing the Scripture readings in advance of Sunday.  We can arrive a little earlier for Mass so we have time to reflect on what is about to transpire.  During the Mass, we can be more attentive and responsive.  Aware of God’s presence and His saving action, we express our gratitude to Him in word and in prayer.  We receive Holy Communion devoutly.  We do not rush out of church as soon as we can, but rather we respectfully thank the Lord and then depart joyfully, knowing that the Lord is truly with us.

If our participation in the Sunday Mass is devout and we leave with an awareness of God’s presence in us, our attitude and response to others must also be Christ-like.  Remember, love God first and foremost and your neighbors as yourself.  This is the great Commandment of Love each of us must follow as a Eucharistic person.

3. In addition to our Sunday Mass, why not arrange to attend Mass on one or another of the weekday Masses?  This would be an excellent Advent practice.

4. In each of our parish churches, the Eucharist is reserved in the Tabernacle.  Many parishes have times arranged for Eucharistic Adoration.  One hour a week in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament during the Advent season might require a sacrifice on your part but what a fantastic blessing it would be for you.  In that time of adoration, the Eucharistic Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ, will fill your heart with His love and H will grant you the peace and joy that God alone can give.

The Liturgical Season of Advent begins next Sunday.  It is a time for us to prepare for the celebration of Christmas - the coming of Jesus to our world.  Let us use this Advent Season well so that at Christmas, we can truly say - regarding Jesus - “Come, let us adore Him.”