Advent is… [an] annual meditation
on the work of salvation and sanctification,
the work of grace and love
which the Lord began and continually begins
in every person and in every generation.
on the work of salvation and sanctification,
the work of grace and love
which the Lord began and continually begins
in every person and in every generation.
--St. Pope John Paul II
The expectation of Advent is anchored in the event of God’s incarnation. The more I come in touch with what happened in the past, the more I come in touch with what is to come. The Gospel not only reminds me of what took place but also of what will take place. In the contemplation of Christ’s first coming, I can discover the signs of his second coming. By looking back in meditation, I can look forward in expectation. By reflection, I can project; by conserving the memory of Christ’s birth, I can progress to the fulfillment of his kingdom. I am struck by the fact that the prophets speaking about the future of Israel always kept reminding their people of God’s great works in the past. They could look forward with confidence because they could look backward with awe to Yahweh’s great deeds.
I pray that Advent will offer me the opportunity to deepen my memory of God’s great deeds in time and will set me free to look forward with courage to the fulfillment of time by him who came and is still to come.
--Henri Nouwen
No comments:
Post a Comment