R.E. news: ADVENT

First Sunday of Advent - the start of The Year of Matthew

This Sunday, 27th November, is the start of Advent and the start of the new liturgical year (Matthew - Year A).

Advent is the season of new beginnings. A new liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent and it beckons to us with images of transformation and hope. It is the season of the impossible becoming possible.  

Advent can come as a surprise to us sometimes. It’s not unlike the surprise of Mary when she received news that she was pregnant with Jesus. Like her, we take the season of Advent as a time for pause, reflection, and preparation for the gift of God’s love coming to us through the baby Jesus.

The four weeks of Advent are popularly considered to symbolize the four thousand years of darkness before the coming of Christ. We set up Nativity scenes, light Advent candles, and decorate wreaths in our homes to signify Christ’s presence coming in the darkness of sin and suffering. Four candles adorn an Advent wreath, one for each week. A fifth candle is sometimes placed in the center for the beginning of the Christmas season.

The Advent Candles

Also known as the “prophecy candle,” the first candle on the Advent wreath is the candle of hope. For Advent assures us we can have hope that God will fulfill the prophecies declared in the Old Testament about Jesus. Hope doesn’t disappoint us (Romans 5:5).

A short prayer for the first week of Advent:

God of Wisdom,

Root of Jesse,

King of Nations,

Emmanuel,

Lord Jesus

Come

into our thoughts,

into our hearts

into our lives

this Advent.

Amen

Kind regards, 

Ru Lameijn - rlameijn@sjvmulgrave.catholic.edu.au