We look back at chapters of our own life story. We wish that some pages could be rewritten. Wasted days, broken promises, gifts unused, noble resolutions never fulfilled, a grace-filled call as yet unanswered. Tonight we all must close the record. As 1998 joins the vanished years we recall friends taken from us in unexpected ways. "You can be steward no longer!" For a moment we reflect. We resolve. Some seed is sown. Did we give space and light and fertile soil? Fresh acres come to us with tomorrow's dawn. The sower goes out! Will we allow a harvest? Now is the time.
"Stay awake! You do not know the day when the Master is coming. You too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." The heart sails under sealed orders and no one can name the date or place of final landfall. "If today we hear his voice let us not harden our wayward hearts."
Advent is given to us as a healing time of calm and preparation and peace. We seek cleansing and renewal, without which there will be no Christmas Joy.
"You, Lord, yourself are our Father,
Redeemer is your ancient Name.
Return for the sake of your servants -
Oh that you would tear open the heavens and come down!
At your presence all the mountains will melt."
We are called to stillness. We enter on a time of listening. In quiet prayer we reflect in the deep places of the heart. With Scripture, petition and Sacred Sacrament our wounds will be healed and we will be granted a heart made new. Carol and crib and Advent wreath will awaken hopes and ideals and a noble resolve long dormant beneath the weariness of the pilgrim way. Advent awakens us and gives us courage afresh and a vision made new.
The long night of mediocre life style is past. We cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. We meet a health-giving challenge each new day. "Listen! Arise! Give ear! Cast off the works of darkness! Put on the armour of shining light!" By the radiant, hope-filled gate of Advent we enter a year of arousing hope and of healing grace. God's gifts will not fail us if, with Mary, Mother of Christ, we utter our personal "Fiat" to His redeeming plan. To those who do what in them lies, God will never deny His saving grace.
At the end of our years (as at the end of our day) we cry aloud in contrition and in faith: "Lighten our darkness, O Lord, we beseech you and brighten our lives by the healing grace of your coming among us. Come, Lord Jesus, and we shall be saved!"
We walk our Advent way close to Mary, Mother of Christ. At evensong we unite with her great prayer joining the Christian world in her Magnificat. We know how fervently and faithfully she listened. She kept God's words, pondering them in her heart. He that is mighty did great things for her. His mercy is still at work today. And from the Gospel now, as in Cana in Galilee, she calls to us, "Whatever He says to you do it!"
Come, Lord Jesus!
"Hear the herald voice resounding
"Christ is near" it seems to say.
Cast away the dreams of darkness,
Welcome Christ, the light of day!
Wakened by this solemn warning,
Let the earth-bound soul arise,
Christ her sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies."
F.MacN.