Advent: Christ is Coming…

1. Advent: Christ is Coming… …and He Will Come Again!

2. Happy New Year! • The Church moves through a series of spiritual seasons throughout its Liturgical Year • Advent (from the Latin for “arrive”) begins the year • Looks back to Christ’s first coming in the manger • Looks ahead to His second coming in glory

3. Sights • Color = One of the first indicators of season • Violet-Usually signifies mourning or penance • Advent is not a penitential season like Lent, but it is one of spiritual preparation, and repentance is a theme in the readings • Rose is used on the Third Sunday of Advent • Advent wreath usually present

4. Sounds • Hymns help us experience the emotional “color” of the season: • Longing (“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”) • Joy (“The King of Glory Comes”) • Renewal (“On Jordan’s Bank”)

5. Smells • Incense: Signifies our prayer rising up to God • See: • Revelation 5:8 “…with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” • Revelation 8:4 “and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God.”

6. The Word • Most important distinguishing mark of the season: Biblical Readings • The Liturgy has two parts: • the proclamation of the saving acts of God (Liturgy of the Word) • The making present of those mysteries in the celebration of the Sacrament (Liturgy of the Eucharist)

7. Incarnational Faith • Our worship is Incarnational-it engages our whole being • Body & Soul • Mind & Heart • Time & Space • Because of Creation and Redemption • God created everything for His praise and man’s use • Christ’s saving acts embrace all created reality

8. You Have Put on Christ • Baptism makes us part of the Mystical Body of Christ • Christ is the Head of His Body (the Church) • Where the Head goes, the Body will follow • The Liturgical Calendar helps us (members of the Body) share in the mysteries of Christ’s earthly life

9. The Day of the Sun • Sunday is the original feast day • Christ rose on Sunday • Appeared to disciples on Sundays • Justin Martyr wrote in 155 AD that Christians worshipped “on the day we call the day of the Sun” (CCC 1345) • Church calendar counts by Sundays (Four in Advent) • Advent wreath embodies liturgical perspective on time

10. Last Thing’s First • Readings for 1st Sunday of Advent • OT: Speaks longingly of the Lord’s coming and setting people and things aright • NT: Exhortations from St. Paul to live as good Christians ought • Gospel: Prophecy of Christ’s Second Coming

11. People of Advent: Isaiah • Isaiah is the most quoted book in the NT • Often called “the fifth Gospel” because it prophecies so much about the Messiah • 2 main parts of the book: • Chapters 1-39: some bright spots, but doom for Israel • Ch. 40-66: Restoration promised The Prophet Isaiah, by Raphael, St. Agostino, Rome

12. Second to None • Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent: • OT: The consolation that the Lord brings to His people • NT: Exhortation to love, harmony, or preparedness • Gospel: The ministry of John the Baptist Alexandre Cabanel, John the Baptist

13. Three to Get Ready • Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday): • OT: Rejoicing/encouragement • NT: Rejoice & Patience • Gospel: The Message of St. John the Baptist • Jesus’ testimony to John • John’s identity: I am the Voice • Practical advice for repentance

14. People of Advent: The Baptist • Bridge figure in Salvation History • Last of the OT prophets • First to announce the coming of Christ in His public life • Jesus said there was no greater man born of woman & that he was “Elijah” • Preached repentance in preparation for the Messiah Icon of Elijah and St. John the Baptist

15. Four to Go! • Readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent: • OT: Birth of the Messiah prophesied (a virgin shall conceive…) • NT: The proclamation of “Jesus Christ” • Gospel: The Annunciation and birth of Christ

16. People of Advent: Mary • Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception always falls during Advent • Appropriate, because the reason she was conceived without sin was to make her a fit mother for the Son of God • Mary is our Model of Advent Patience, Preparation, and Rejoicing “Mary Comforts Eve” by Trappist Sisters of Mississippi Abbey

17. A Mass a Day Keeps the Devil Away • The weekday Mass readings during Advent are divided into three parts: • Week 1-2: Isaiah, lots of him • Week 2 (End)-3: The Baptist • Week 4: Events leading up to the birth of Christ

18. O My Goodness! • The Alleluia verses for December 17-23 are collectively known as the “O Antiphons” • Taken from the Antiphon before the Magnificat during Vespers (Evening Prayer) of the same days • All address Christ directly (O…) by one of His titles drawn from Scripture (e.g. O Root of Jesse)

19. Roots, Keys, and Springs, O My! • O Antiphons: • Dec. 17– O Wisdom • Dec. 18—O Lord • Dec. 19—O Root of Jesse • Dec. 20—O Key of David • Dec. 21—O Dayspring • Dec. 22—O King of the Nations • Dec. 23—O Emmanuel • These are enshrined in the hymn “O Come O Come Emmanuel”

20. “Look Busy” The Magnificat Advent Companionwww.magnificat.com Joseph Ratzinger, What it Means to be a Christian, (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006). Joseph Ratzinger, Seek That Which is Above: Meditations Through the Year, (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2007). Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives (New York: Image, 2012). Scott Hahn, Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and their Biblical Roots, (New York: Doubleday, 2009).