Many people have a limited view of Advent. They understand and try to live the spirituality of the twofold character of Advent:
1) To remember with gratitude the first coming of the Lord and
2) To look forward joyfully to his return in glory. However, they tend to overlook the fact that Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year during which all the mysteries of Christ will be celebrated by the Church. 

There is a practical implication of not viewing Advent in context. Once the Christmas/New Year’s celebrations are over, the thoughts and plans of many people turn to Carnival.

As a result, they do not even complete the Christmas cycle of the Church year, which does not close until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. More importantly, they do not apply the theology of the Incarnation (Body and Spirit – Human and Divine) to the many issues and challenges that will surface during the liturgical year.

The 2006-2007 liturgical year will be a very busy year in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain and a test of the level of acceptance of incarnational theology by the people of the archdiocese i.e. making the Lord and the Church visible.

The agenda for 2006-2007 will make demands on all members of the archdiocese: people who are already busy people and people who, for many different reasons, are not as busy as they could be for the Lord.

Yet all these people and their skills are needed to move the archdiocese forward as a Church that is “alive and present in our land” to quote the Synod Prayer. 

In this column, I shall try to raise a series of issues for consideration concerning Advent in context and also concerning the theology of the Incarnation that have implications for the entire liturgical year. I shall conclude each issue with a question that, hopefully, will personalise each issue for the readers.

Vocation to Holiness

The Word became Flesh to reconcile humanity with God and to share the life of God with us who are the adopted children of God as a result of the ministry of Jesus. Holiness means that with the help of the Holy Spirit we try to live the values of God in a persevering manner.

It means that we avoid sin and work to deepen our union with God. The remembering/expecting dynamic of Advent with its implications for the call to holiness reach far beyond the celebration of Christmas. These elements are intrinsic to the Christian life.

Question: Do we accept the call to holiness proclaimed by Jesus and do we understand that our response to the call is a lifelong journey?

Sign and symbol

The liturgy is filled with signs and symbols that communicate God’s truth and remind us of our identity and values. Secular society is also filled with signs and symbols. Each set of signs and symbols is calling us to give allegiance to a different set of values.

We must recognise the challenge and respond in an informed manner. If we do not respond in an informed manner, the secularisation process begins to invade our lives. Periodic reflection on the presence and meaning of signs and symbols helps us to appreciate better the message they communicate.

Question: Are the signs and symbols in your home reflective of Catholic culture or secular culture?

Catechesis

Advent/Christmas is a special time for the very young and should also be special for the not so young. The Christmas cycle of the Church year is an opportunity for catechesis. Symbols used by the Church for centuries must be explained to the young.

Catechesis on the Nativity scene, the Advent wreath, the importance of family prayer, explaining the words of Christmas music are not only essential for the young, they are also reminders for adults of their responsibility to catechise the young and to be rooted in their own faith understanding.   

Question: Do we catechise the young and prepare our explanations of the faith to them or do we just assume that the young will “pick up the faith somehow” on their own?

Mary the Mother of God

The values of love, justice and peace that are highlighted during the Christmas cycle of the Church year are particularly relevant for today’s world where violence and death are an everyday experience. We recall at this time of the year the life-giving role of the Mother of God in Salvation History.

As Mother of the Prince of Peace, she becomes the Queen of Peace at a time when peace is so elusive. She continues to intercede for us in the struggle between light and darkness that is so intense in the modern world.

Two years ago, at the conclusion of the Fatima devotions at the Laventille Marian Shrine, I entrusted the nation and the archdiocese to the care of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  The text of the Act of Entrustment followed the format used by Pope John Paul II when he entrusted the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. At that time, I stated that the Act of Entrustment is offered to all but will not be imposed upon any group or person who cannot receive it freely with joy.

Due to the level of violence in the world which potentially threatens the nation and also in the nation as a result of abortion, crime, domestic turmoil and irresponsible driving, I have decided that each year during the Cathedral Liturgy for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (the patroness of the Cathedral), I shall renew the Act of Entrustment of the nation and archdiocese to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Question: Will everyone accept the renewal of the Act of Entrustment to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary with confidence and joy?

Conclusion

Understanding Advent in its context of being the beginning a new liturgical year that has implications for the rest of the liturgical year, leads to a much broader application of incarnational theology to our lives.

It helps to protect us from the immediate post- Christmas cultural shift to carnival. It also helps to protect us from the passive attitude of waiting for the arrival of Lent so we can be serious about spirituality again. 

This year reflect on the liturgical context of Advent.