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Advent 2012
Dec
Spiritually, I have had an Advent focus for many years now. My two favorite approaches to encountering God have been through mantras introduced in Advent; be alert and pay attention. So I am very pleased to write this blog as we celebrate Advent 2012.
On the first Sunday of Advent, I went to Mass. During the homily my beloved Advent themes excited me and opened up for me again when my pastor suggested the translation of Advent, from the Latin Adventus, is “to come upon.”
I am a big believer in God’s messages alive, active and constant in the ordinariness of our lives. Because of this belief, when I am paying attention, when I am being alert, I may come upon moments and messages of the Spirit of God. You have had these experiences yourself. When the right book or poem or story fell into your lap and was just what you needed in a difficult situation. For me, you were being alert and you came upon the intended gift of God. And this is what Advent calls us to each year. Not just the being alert to the Second Coming but being alert to the Divine right here, right now.
So as I am being alert and paying attention, the action of God allows me to come upon. Now many people in Advent and at Christmas are very focused on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and that is right for them. For me the other Advent focus is much more central in my spiritual awakening. I am in the here and now of my life; finding the Spirit as I come upon God in a friend, a gift, a reading.
I am once again drawn into the themes and reading for Advent. There is closeness with the Divine that I can ponder and experience when I focus on the action of God as I come upon it daily, yes daily. Every day there are blessings and gifts even on the difficult days. Advent reminds us not to miss these times when God is intimate with us. Be Alert, Pay Attention and you will Come Upon.
We’d love to hear your reaction to this blog including your own reflections on Advent. What spiritual themes inspire you? What is your focus this year? How do you come upon the Divine in your day?
Happy Advent!
Peggy Gerovac
I got a Christmas card at the beginning of the week which announced that “Each day is a story just waiting to be told.”
As I enter into my busy days in parish ministry I go to the Pray-as-you-go website and focus on the Advent readings which remind me of one long litany: Come…light, peace, joy, strength, comfort, etc…Come. When I greet people and hear their stories and try to meet their needs, I’m convinced that Jesus is present with me (them). He’s already here…just waiting to be invited in. Today, I hope he won’t mind going with me to the Mall after three Communion calls.