Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come. During Advent we naturally focus on the birth of Jesus – his first coming. The Church, however, asks us to look beyond his birth at Bethlehem and reflect on his coming again at the end of time in order that we might better understand and appreciate the fullness of the redemption he has gained for us.
The birth of Jesus inaugurated our salvation and fulfilled many, but not all, of the prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the long-awaited Messiah. Some prophecies will be fulfilled only at his Second Coming. The fullness of our redemption will not be ours until then. Therefore we await that day with hope: ‘Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.‘
How shall we best make ourselves ready? One way is to make Advent a time for extra prayer, focusing on the truths of His two comings. This will stir up our hearts. Another way is to make a good examination of conscience. This will show us where we need to amend our lives. We should not make Advent a time of penance. Instead, it should be a season of expectancy and hope as we joyfully wait and watch for the Lord’s coming.