Weekly Reflections for November 27, 2022
“Celebrating the Season”
Happy New Year!
Now, you may be thinking that I’m a few weeks early with this greeting; but today is the beginning of a new liturgical year in the Church. And, just like the secular calendar has seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall), the liturgical year also has seasons (Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter). So, today is not only the beginning of the liturgical year, but it is also the first Sunday of the season of Advent.
The season of Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus. This includes the commemoration of the first coming of Jesus when he was born on Christmas Day; the coming of Jesus to us every day in Scripture, Sacrament, and each other; and the final coming of Jesus at the end of time when he will judge the living and the dead.
The liturgical color for the season of Advent is purple. This color reminds us that Advent is a solemn time of reflection, prayer, and preparation of our hearts and lives to receive Jesus. However, on the third Sunday of Advent, the liturgical color is pink which is the color of rejoicing. It reminds us, amid our preparation for Jesus, that encounters with Jesus are reasons to rejoice.
So, as we enter the season of Advent, let us take time to celebrate. We can:
- Celebrate the fresh start of a new liturgical year through an encounter with God’s mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Celebrate God’s generosity to us throughout the year by contributing to the poor box or other opportunities to help those less fortunate than ourselves.
- Celebrate God’s faithfulness to his promise to send a savior by reflecting on all the ways that God has been faithful to us on a personal level.
- Celebrate the joyful anticipation of the season by sharing that joy with someone who is lonely or worried or feeling down.
- Celebrate the wonder of God’s desire to be in a personal relationship with each one of us by finding ways to grow closer to him throughout the Advent season.
– Kathy Foehrkolb