In the midst of economic crisis and a war on terror, the nation is covered with Christmas trees, bright lights, decorative wreaths, and all the trimmings of the season.
Local radio stations have been blaring the sounds of Christmas all day, every day for weeks. The great sign of the season, Santa and his reindeer, have been on their way for weeks if not months as once again the birth of our Savior is reduced to a frenzied urge to overdecorate, overlight, overshop, overspend, and generally overdo last Christmas.
Yet this season is different from all those of the recent past. For the present day is one of the somber realism of unemployment, financial failure and war for millions of Americans.
Many in the City of Man continue to fall prey to the crass commercialism of Christmas that leaves the Savior out in the cold. Many Catholics will fall victim to the secular season that does little to prepare for Christ's coming. For them, Advent will be a season of sales and shopping, buying and bargains rather than prayerful anticipation and joyful expectation.
The City of God stands upon a hill in stark contrast to the commercialism and materialism that mark this time of year for many people. The time of preparation and joyful anticipation begins on Sunday as the Church marks the beginning of the First Sunday of Advent.The violet candle will be lit in Churches across the globe as Catholics mark the beginning of the sacred and somber season of waiting patiently for Christ to come. It is a season of hopeful expectation as we remember Christ's coming at the first Christmas and await his return again at the end of time.
This year Christ comes again as He did more than 2000 years ago, into a world scarred by violence and poverty. As we begin the somber yet joyful season of Advent, let all hear the call of the Church to stop and wait for Christ's coming. What is needed this Advent? More Christmas music? More sales? More shopping? No, what is truly needed is for the way of the Christchild to be prepared with deeper faith, stronger hope and greater charity.
