An Advent Reflection

My dear Knights and Dames, 

It is now time for Advent and a new liturgical year. The word Advent means “coming toward” or “approaching.”  As we draw close to the end of another year, once again the days become shorter and shorter in terms of sunlight until we mark the shortest day of the year on December 21.  Then, the days slowly but surely begin to become longer, as more and more sunlight fills the skies.  Nature’s dramatic show of sky light inspired the ancient pagan world to believe in gods of light and darkness which battle each other in a never-ending struggle of good vs. evil.  While it may seem at times that light fades under the power of darkness, it is never entirely snuffed out; in fact, it comes back stronger and fills the sky with more and more radiance and power, as the tide turns in favor of more and more light, beginning on December 22.  For the ancient pagan world, the Sun God would always return triumphant over the power of the opposing god of darkness.  This pagan understanding of light and darkness at the end of the calendar year served as the basis for celebrating the Nativity of Jesus Christ in late December.  For Christians, Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.  His Light dispels the powers of darkness and sin.  Even in the midst of the apparent death of winter, light begins to fill all of creation again and warms the life of a new springtime.  Hope abounds, even in the midst of pain and suffering.   

The powers of goodness and truth and life and light are never snuffed out; in fact, they always return more powerful than before, just as the light of the sun returns to fill the earth with more radiance.  Even though winter enters our hearts, springtime joyfully beckons.  May the divine radiance shine brightly in our hearts and minds as we make his Light shine forth in a confused world. 

As the year comes to a close, this serves me the opportunity to ask God’s choicest blessings upon each of you and your families.  May the Christ Child whom we long to see for ourselves one day in the Bethlehem of heaven find his Heart burning brightly in our own now and in the coming year. 

Yours in Christ, 

Rev. Msgr. James D. Watkins, Conventual Chaplain ad honorem