Coming Once, Coming Twice
Y’all, there’s less than a month until Christmas!!!
You’ve probably noticed that the priests at Mass are wearing violet theses days which means that the Church is now in the season of Advent. It is one of my favorite times in the liturgical year because there is so much excitement! Everyone is stoked for Christmas traditions, presents, and a break from school! We’re preparing for a lot of different things: finals, getting Christmas presents for everyone in your family, and all of the other details that come at this time of year. These are great things, but what are we preparing for in the Church?
Your first thought is probably, “Duh, Jesus’ birthday, man!” That’s true, we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the coming of our Savior. But, there’s also a second coming that we are getting ready for.
Two Comings:
For the first three weeks of Advent, our readings at Mass don’t even talk about the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. Instead, they remind us of the reality that Jesus is coming back.
Huh?
Every Sunday at Mass when we recite the Nicene Creed, we say that Jesus will “Come again to judge the living and the dead.” What does this mean? It means that at the end of time, Jesus will come back to us, not as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, but as a just judge. The Scriptures remind us to, “stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come” (Mt 24). When Jesus returns in all of the glory of heaven, he will call us to himself and will examine the ways that we have lived our lives. Those who have loved him and chosen to do His Will will inherit eternal happiness. Those who have chosen selfishness over God will receive what they have sought after. As C.S. Lewis said, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell” (The Great Divorce).
Be Not Afraid
If you’re a little scared right now, don’t be. God is a merciful Savior who wants all of us to have eternal life ( cf. John 3:16). The word “advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus” which means “coming.” God is coming, but that’s something to anticipate with joy and excitement, not terror.
Have you ever found out that a close family member or friend was coming over and you were REAAAAALY excited to see them? Like you kept looking out the window or checking your phone to see when they would show up? That’s what Advent is meant to be for us as Christians. We are waiting for our Savior, King, and best friend to show up and bring us into a deeper relationship with him on Earth and in Heaven. That’s something to be excited about!
What To Do?
1. Go to Confession
One of the best things you can do this Advent to get ready for Christ’s coming is to confess your sins. When we go to Confession, we turn away from sin and back to Christ. This allows us to anticipate Christ’s coming not with fear, but with hope. If you’re nervous to go, remember the words that Jesus spoke to St. Faustina; “The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to my mercy” (Diary 723). If you have a lot of sins to confess, Jesus has a lot of merciful love for you!
2. Read the Mass readings every day
Every day at Mass, the readings remind us what we are preparing for during Advent. Plan to spend 10 minutes a day throughout Advent reading the readings for that day. As you do this, you’ll find that you are anticipating Christmas more and more and growing in your understanding of the Advent season. You can find the daily readings here or download the Laudate App from the App Store.
3. Pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
As we journey through Advent, asking Mary to be our guide is a great idea. Think about the joy and expectation that Mary had as she carried the child Jesus in her womb. I’m sure with every passing week, she became more and more excited to meet the child she would give birth to. The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Birth of Jesus, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, and the finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. These mysteries are usually prayed on Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays during Advent. Spending time meditating on these events in the life of Jesus through Mary’s eyes can completely change the way we see these events. For a guide of how to pray the Rosary, go here. If it’s too much to pray a whole Rosary, just pray one decade of it, asking Mary to help you get ready for Jesus’ coming.
I pray your Advent season is full of hope and a new excitement at the coming of Christ!
About the Author
I enjoy playing the guitar, the great outdoors, and any sport that involves a ball (except water polo). I firmly believe that Pluto will always be a planet. Jesus completely changed my life when I was in high school so I’m a big fan of His. I strive to be more like Him every day.
