Advent Is A Season of Anticipation

Advent Is A Season of Anticipation

Probably you have read His Eminence, Cardinal John Tong’s Advent message. He should have been happily retired had His Excellency, the late Bishop Michael Yeung not suddenly died in January 2019. His Eminence has gone through an extremely long season of Advent as the Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong until the consecration of His Excellency, Bishop Stephen Chow, S.J. of Hong Kong on December 4, 2021.

Traditionally, Advent is an anticipatory season like Lent. The liturgical colour is rather gloomy --- purple. But don’t worry. Brightness is just around the corner. Christ the Holy Infant is the morning star at the dawn of our salvation. Before that, Jews were living in the dark age of captivity: Babylonian, Persian, Greek and finally Roman. After some thirty years, Jesus emerged from Nazareth where people didn’t expect anything good to come (John 1:46). His public ministry reached climax at His crucifixion on the cross, the darkest moment in human history but in the small hours of the very first Easter Sunday, Christ outshone the darkness of death like trillions of trillions suns and came back to life! At the end of history, Christ the King of the Universe shall come again in majestic glory to judge the living and the dead. Yes, darkness does not last!

Therefore, not only do we prepare for the birth of our Saviour during Advent, but we also prepare for the Second Coming of Christ the King. The liturgical setting of the Church arranges the first two weeks in anticipation of His Second Coming, not the first. This is an ingenious decision because the coming of Christ is always unexpected. Surely, nobody knows when the world shall end, nor when one shall die. But who would expect the Saviour of the world, the champion who would defeat Satan, to be born a nobody? The worst of all, Christ found no room to receive Him (Luke 2:7).

Brethren, we spend weeks, if not months, to prepare for throwing a birthday party/wedding banquet. By how do we prepare and to make room for the coming of our Saviour and King? We don’t have to worry about how to throw a party in heaven because we are not yet there. Rather, we should worry about whether we have thrown away the invitation card which God gives us! God forces nobody to join Him but He generously invites all to partake in His eternal life and glory. Thus, we should worry about whether we have prepared a good enough wedding garment to join the heavenly banquet (Matthew 22:12)! It would be pitiful if we would be rejected at the gate of heaven by St. Peter in full sight of all the souls present. The advice of Pope Francis is simple. The invitation/identity card of Christians is the Beatitudes (Gaudete et Exsultate #63). Deacon’s advice is even simpler. Pray, read the gospel, stay alert to see who needs help and act.

Together with the people of Hong Kong, His Eminence, Cardinal John Tong has gone through an advent of more than 34 months. All of us have! Has our faith vanished? Are we still anticipating the good Lord to manifest His justice? Are we helping the needy (Matthew 25:40) and acting as Christ's ambassadors of reconciliation in this world (2 Corinthians 5:19-20)? Be assured that our King and Lord shall come to reward all those who listen, follow and persevere. God bless! Amen!

HOMESTEAD 2021 Nov. edition