Some people come to church to get away from the hectic and disturbing aspects of life. They like that. Some people complain that church is unreal since it bears no resemblance to the life they lead. They don;t like that. What is the truth? Is what we do during the celebration of the liturgy an escape from the realities of life? In reflecting on the season of Advent, we have the means for seeing that the liturgy is real, that it reflects life as it is, but the liturgy is also an ideal since it gives a direction and purpose to life.
One of the aspects of life is that we are constantly looking to the future. It begins early when adults insists on asking a child, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”It continues during school years. Most people look forward to marriage, to having children, to advancing at work, to retirement, and then to that which youth seems uncertain and distant, old age and death. Looking to the future is a part of life. It does so in two ways, first by being attentive to an uncertain, and seemingly distant future when Christ will come again to our world to bring His kingdom to perfection. Secondly Advent looks to the future by preparing to celebrate on December 25 the birth of Christ. The two part are not related. About Christ’s second coming we have sure hope because we accept His first coming with firm faith. What God promised was fulfilled in the first coming of Christ and what God still promises will be fulfilled in the second coming of Christ. One promise fulfilled is a pledge of a promise yet to be fulfilled.
God taught His people through the prophets to hope for salvation despite their sinfulness. In fulfillment of God’s will, the Son gave himself up to death, but by rising from the dead He destroyed death and restored life. Hoping for a bright future is a real part of life, and it is of the essence of the season of Advent.