| The word “advent” provides us with much material for reflection on the meaning of the season of the liturgical year we call “Advent”. The Latin word advenire means “to come to”, “to reach”, or “to arrive at”. Meditating on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, we may ponder the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ came to us 2000 years ago in the form of a man, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary (The Nativity). However, we also recognize the fact that nine months prior to His having been born of the Virgin in Bethlehem, He was already in the world, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit (The Annunciation) and borne for nine months in the womb of the Blessed Mother. Even before His actual birth the Savior was present to the world, and when Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, herself pregnant with John the Baptist, John leapt for joy at the presence of his salvation (The Visitation).
From both the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds we know that the Lord “will come again to judge the living and the dead”, but “of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). We also are cognizant of the fact that the Lord will come to take each one of us from this world when the moment of our death arrives, and we make every effort to live in such a way that are prepared for that moment, for “at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come” (Luke 12:40). During the penitential season of Advent the celebration of the Mass reflects our expectation and preparation. Violet vestments are worn, the Gloria is omitted, and the use of the organ and other musical instruments and the decorating of the altar with flowers should be done in a moderate manner, as is consonant with the character of the season. In this way the Church prepares Herself to celebrate the fact that the Lord has come, will come, and is in fact, coming. Individually, we hope to renew ourselves in such a way that, like the shepherds who were the first to see God face to face in the Person of Jesus Christ, we may “see” Him with the eyes of faith and allow Him “to reach” us, and “to arrive” anew in our souls. |
La palabra “adviento” nos ofrece mucho material para reflexionar sobre el significado del año litúrgico que llamamos Adviento. La palabra Adviento viene del latín advenire que significa “venir” “alcanzar” “llegar”.
Meditando en los Misterios Gozosos del Rosario podemos reflexionar en el hecho de que nuestro Señor Sin embargo, también reconocemos el hecho de que nueve meses antes de este acontecimiento, ya Por el Credo de los Apóstoles y el credo Niceno, sabemos que nuestro Señor “vendrá de nuevo para juzgar a vivos y muertos,” pero que no sabemos ni el día ni la hora, que ni siquiera los ángeles del cielo ni el Hijo lo saben, solo el Padre (Marcos 13:32). También sabemos que el Señor vendrá a llevarnos de este mundo a la hora de nuestra muerte, y que hacemos nuestro mejor esfuerzo para estar preparados, porque “a la hora no esperada, vendrá el Hijo del Hombre (Lucas 12:40). Durante el tiempo penitencial del Adviento, la celebración de la Misa refleja nuestra esperanza y preparación. Se usan las vestiduras color violeta, se omite el Gloria, y tanto la música como la decoración de la iglesia deberá ser moderada. De esta manera la Iglesia se prepara para celebrar el Nacimiento de Jesús. Individualmente esperamos renovarnos de tal forma, para que como los pastores que fueron los primeros en ver a Dios cara a cara en la persona de Jesucristo, podamos también nosotros verlo con los ojos de la fe, y le permitamos llegar a nosotros y nacer de nuevo. |
