Waiting for a Friend.
There is great anticipation when you are waiting for a friend.
Think of the many times you have invited a friend to lunch or
an event. Did you not look forward to being together?
God in his Grace invites us to a banquet, the Guest of Honor,
His Son: Jesus!
There is a journey to make before we feast at this banquet:
that journey is called Advent. While on this journey,
we contemplate with great anticipation and hope.
We join the angels, saints, St. Joseph and our Blessed Lady
as "watchmen in the morning" [Ps 130:6a]
for the hopeful [Is 49:23b] event of the Birth of our Savior.
Psalm 130: 6a- "My soul waits for the Lord.
More than the watchmen for the morning"
Isaiah 49:23b "Those who hopefully wait for Me
will not be put to shame."
According to Church Tradition,
our Church Year starts with Advent.
The primary sanctuary color of Advent is Purple.
Purple being the color of royalty,
which the last Sunday of the Church year
is Christ the King.
Purple is also the color of suffering used
during Lent & Holy Week.
This brings the 2 seasons together
in a special bond.
The birth of Jesus and his death and resurrection
cannot be separated.
One Season in itself does not express
the entire story of the
redemption and love of God for us.
The sole purpose of the "Word made Flesh"
is to reveal to us
the Life, Suffering, Death,
and Resurrection of Jesus.
EWTN: Advent Wreath
The King shall come when morning dawns,
And light triumphant breaks;
When beauty gilds the eastern hills,
And life to joy awakes.
O brighter then that glorious morn
Shall this fair morning be,
When Christ, our King, in beauty comes,
And we his face shall see.
The king shall come when morning dawns,
And earths' dark night is past;
O haste the rising of that morn,
The day that aye shall last.
The King shall come when morning dawns,
And light and beauty brings:
Hail, Christ the Lord! They people pray,
Come quickly, King of kings.
