We are starting the season of Advent, in which we prepare ourselves for the great celebration of Christmas.
Advent: the coming of the Saviour
The word advent means arrival or coming; and by that we mean the coming of the Saviour. The season of Advent is a season in which our hearts are full of hope and expectation. The history of salvation as we find it in the Scriptures, is a history pregnant with expectation, born out of God’s promises. Christians are a people of hope, who do not dwell in the past, but keep on walking towards the future, knowing that, in spite of the present problems, tension and anguish, better times will come, which will be times of joy and peace.
False optimism
As a teenager, during the sixties, I shared the prevalent optimism, believing that science would solve the biggest problems of the world. Science had made so many strides, that nothing seemed impossible any more. We did not think much about the constant nuclear threat pending over our heads, which was a product of science.
Nowadays, science is taking even bolder steps, researching everything that can be researched and inventing new machinery and new gadgets every day. However, we have lost all that optimism and all that confidence in the power of science to solve our problems. In fact, if we look deep, we find that human situation is not better today than it was before. Science has made life easier, but has brought innumerable problems as well.
The harsh world we live in
The world we live in is not as bright and happy, as it may seem. The words of Isaiah (in the first reading) apply to us: “We are all like men unclean, all that integrity of ours like filthy clothing. We have all withered like leaves and our sins blew us away like the wind.” (Is 64:6).
The reality of life is harsh, and the days in which we can enjoy life are short. The world is in crisis, a crisis that leads many people to despair. Every day, we hear about economic crisis and about thousands of people being thrown out of employment. We cannot trust the politicians, or the financiers or the managers of the big companies. They do not care about the common people; they only care about their own interests.
God’s faithfulness
In a situation like this, how can our hearts be filled with hope? Our hope is based on God’s faithfulness and love, not on human cleverness. Paul says it very clearly: “God is faithful” (1 Cor 1:9). The Saviour is coming, and we must prepare ourselves to welcome him. That’s why the Advent comes also with a call to be prepared and to stay awake. We must remain vigilant and committed.
“And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!” (Mk 13:37).
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