In many places, groups of Christians observe seasons of the year as they correspond to events in salvation history or in the life of Christ.
In many places, the beginning of a Christian year would be marked by a season commemorating the coming of Christ, called Advent.
This time is usually observed as four weeks before the feast of Christmas, celebrated on December 25. The exact date of Jesus’ birth is not known, but the time was chosen in the context of Jesus being “The Light of the World.” In this, Christmas falls for us in the northern hemisphere at a time when daylight is near its shortest, considered the right time for the Light of the World to enter.
Maybe you remember a song like “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem,” or one not as much associated with Christmas, called “The Darkest Night is Just Before Dawn.”
Advent is thought of in three periods of time. One is historical, the time the people were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. The second commemorates the waiting for the second coming or the return of Christ at the end of time.
The third commemorates the present moment, in which Christ comes to us many times in hidden ways or as he describes in Matthew 25, in the “least of His brothers or sisters.”
There are certain Bible passages that bring these thoughts to mind, that we might want to ponder in the next few weeks. The Book of Ruth has a teaching of faithfulness to it as it unfolds the history of one of the ancestors of King David, who is commemorated also in the genealogy of Jesus’ Messianic ancestry as found in Matthew 1:1-17.
Other passages in the early part of the season are the early chapters of the prophet Isaiah. Many of these are put to music in Handel’s “Messiah,” which is often sung this time of year as well.
As the time of Christmas nears, it is good to read the first two chapters of Matthew and of Luke, which record the history of the time of Jesus’ birth.
As the many signs of the season unfold with the beginning of winter, we pray that you will have the opportunity to ponder the messages of the season as well.
Pastor Fr. Bill Hodgson is the priest at St. Edward Catholic Church in Cassville. He may be reached at 417-847-4948 or stedwardcassville@ gmail.com.
