The Not Yet of Advent — and Christmas

Dear parishioners and friends, grace and peace be with all of you.

Today, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, is so close to Christmas that we can almost taste it. By now, the manger is ready and the tree has likely been decorated for some time. Perhaps we’ve even already begun to prepare the food for the big feast. In just a couple of short days, this penitential season of Advent will give way to the joyful exuberance of Christmas.

And yet — and yet — Christmas is not here yet, as much as our young ones (and old ones?) wish it were otherwise. And it is precisely upon this *not yet* that we ought to reflect today.

Indeed, the whole Christian life is one big not yet, if you think about it. Ever since we first learn about heaven and awaken to spiritual realities, we understand that heaven is our true home, that this time on earth is passing away, and for good reason. We are to long for heaven. We should want to be there even right now, united perfectly with God and all of the saints and all of our loved ones and everybody else. No, we don’t know the day or the hour, as our Advent readings forewarn us, and so we must be prepared at all times. And yet — here we are.

So what are we to do with our limited, waning time here on earth? Some would tend towards ambitious bucket lists and “live like you were dying” adventure. But Christians know that death is not the end, and that changes things. What we do on earth, how we live, speak, think — indeed everything should be marked by the reality that God will call us home someday, perhaps someday soon.

Let us live these last few days of Advent, then, with heaven in mind. Take advantage of our daily Confession times Monday and Tuesday morning, if you haven’t made it recently. Invite our friends and neighbors to Christmas Mass. Welcome newcomers at our liturgies with a warm greeting and an invitation to return. Make room in our pews for others. Forgive those who’ve hurt us. Thank God for his blessings. Tell our loved ones just how much we love them — and then back that up with kindness.

And if it’s already Christmas by the time you read this? Bask in the glory that is Christmas! Does it get any better than a home-cooked feast with all our loved ones, toasting to another year of blessings, cozying up by the fire with hot cocoa? Well, yes it does, believe it or not. Heaven will be even better! And that’s something to celebrate.

From Fr. Nick and myself, may God continue to shower his peace, mercy, and love upon you and your family. If you are returning to church today from a long absence, or even a short one, know that you are always welcome here.

Be assured of our prayers; please keep us in yours.

Fr. Patrick Hipwell, pastor of Nativity of Our Lord