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IN THIS ISSUE
From the Desk of
Fr. John Madigan, O.M.I.
Why Do We...
Our Woven Past: Oblate Paths to Sainthood
The Lives of the Saints: St. Ambrose
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
The lyrics to this traditional Advent hymn reflect two important Biblical themes. The first has to do with Israel’s captivity, her “lonely exile” in Babylon. This was a time of high anxiety and spiritual unrest for the Chosen People. They wondered: had God experienced a change of heart about His promises to them at Mt. Sinai? Was their relationship with Yahweh, once considered unshakeable, now forever broken because of their sinfulness?
The forced separation from their homeland led the Chosen People to adopt an intensely apocalyptic view of the future – of a time when the “Son of God,” the Messiah, would appear to restore Israel to the greatness it had known under the great King David.
This wonderful song has become a mainstay of the Advent season, evoking deeply felt emotions that are at the heart of our Catholic faith. Like the Chosen People of the Old Testament, we sometimes feel “exiled” from God, held “captive” by those habits of thought and action that keep us separated from God, from others and from our best selves. And like the Jewish people in exile, we look forward with great anticipation to that time when Jesus, the Son of God, will rule over our minds and hearts completely, restoring our world to the way God intended it to be at the dawn of creation.
While Advent is often thought of as simply the “weeks before Christmas,” it is actually a time of prayerful discernment. During this time people of faith are asked to reflect upon the true meaning of the upcoming celebration of Christmas. The Scripture readings of Advent prepare us for the second coming of Christ as Judge while at the same time reminding us of the events leading up to His first coming in Bethlehem.
Today’s society moves fast. In a time when Christmas decorations begin gracing storefronts in September, it can be difficult for families to find time to reflect upon the joy of the upcoming Christmas celebration. Traditions such as the use of Advent wreaths or Advent calendars help to ground us in anticipation of what is to come. These customs allow time for daily reflection which prepares us to be ready to welcome and receive the Son of God at Christmas. That’s why it is so important to understand Advent as a sacred time of preparation for the coming of the Lord into our lives, our families and our world.
