During this season of Advent we are called to mind the “coming” of the Messiah. Hence, the “arrival” as the word “advent” itself designates. It is a season whereby we bear in mind our many transgressions and do our best with the sacramental life of the Church to weed out the vice and embed ourselves in virtue. This is how we are to worthily prepare for the coming of the Christ. Just as we clean up and tidy our homes when we expect the arrival of a friend, much more so in anticipation of the coming of the Lord are we to cleanse our souls. This observance is an actual preparation for when the Lord actually calls us from this world.
Our Saviour told us, “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come…Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.” For when God does call us will he catch us in sin or will he greet us doing our best to purify our souls? Let us thank God and his Church for this beautiful season, which serves to remind us that when we say, “Come let us worship…” (Mark 13, 33-37) we mean it in heart, body, and soul.
Let us pray during the penitential yet joyful season and work toward a life of virtue. With that, we will not be caught asleep when the lord of the house comes but be ready to greet him with open arms!
