First Sunday of Advent

         In 1892, American author and literary critic William Dean Howells wrote a story entitled Christmas Every Day and part of it reads like this … “Once upon a time there was a little girl who liked Christmas so much that she wanted it to be Christmas every day of the year. Her wish was granted. After it had gone on for four months, the little girl, whenever she went in the room in the morning and saw these great ugly, lumpy stockings dangling at the fireplace, and the disgusting presents around everywhere, used to sit down and burst out crying. In six months, she was perfectly exhausted, she couldn’t even cry anymore.”

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Entrance: Ps 25(24):1-3 – “To You, I lift up my soul, O my God In You, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame. Nor let my enemies exult over me; and let none who hope in You be put to shame.”

First Reading:  Is 2:1-5 – “The Lord will gather all the nations into the eternal peace of the Kingdom of God.”

Psalm: Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 – “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”

Second Reading: Rom 13:11-14 – “Our salvation is nearer.”

Alleluia: Ps 85:8 – “Alleluia, alleluia. Show us, Lord, Your love; and grant us Your salvation. Alleluia, alleluia.”

Gospel: Mt 24:27-44 – “Stay awake, that you may be prepared.”

Communion: Ps 85(84):13 – “The Lord will bestow His bounty, and our earth shall yield its increase.”

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        Joseph H. Bottum, who died in 1984, was an American politician, former Lieutenant Governor and United States Senator from South Dakota. He once made this comment during an interview he gave to his nephew, the editor of the religious magazine, First Things: “Today Christmas has devoured Advent, gobbled it up…. For much of America, Christmas arrives nearly as an afterthought: not the beginning but only the end, of the long Yule season that has burned without stop.”

         So, perhaps you think the question remains … Why can’t or why shouldn’t we celebrate Christmas during Advent? What’s the big deal? Well, simply put, the liturgical season of Advent is what gives Christmas its meaning. Actually, without a well-kept Advent, Christmas makes no sense. And the Advent Season, which by the way began last night at the Vigil Mass at 4:30p, goes until Christmas Eve Day ... 26 days ... give or take a few hours.

         So, ask yourselves, how connected are our homes and Catholic schools to the liturgical season being kept by the Church universal? Aren’t Catholic institutions sending mixed signals to the faithful? The church is draped in Advent violet and clergy wear violet vestments (and rose on the Third Sunday of Advent). If I would walk through the halls of any school, or when I travel down Blackwood-Clementon Road or any other street in Blackwood, how many have Christmas decorations up already? … not to mention the stores … some of which had Christmas decorations up and out since mid-August. Santa came to many shopping malls the end of October or the very beginning of November. Advent was once a penitential time of year, much like Lent. The emphasis the Church puts on Advent today is joyous expectation. “Stay awake, that you may be prepared!” Advent is something to celebrate … filled with hope and expectation! Yet by and large it is ignored. Isaiah, Micah, and the other prophets have been replaced by Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch, and the Red Ryder B-B Gun.

         So, having said all that, what practical activities could we do to keep a genuine Advent season? Over almost thirty years ago … twenty-eight to be precise now … an unknown author e-mailed an article called “The Advent Virus.” It circulated widely just before and during the Advent season in 1997. This unknown author warned us to “be on the alert for symptoms of inner hope, peace, joy and love.” The article related that this virus can actually cure us of a deadly plague named “the Christmas madness” during the Advent season. It asked that we pray to catch this virus! Here are its symptoms: ... an unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment, ... a loss of interest in judging other people, ... a loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others, ... a loss of interest in conflict, ... a loss of the ability to worry, ... frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation, ... contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature, an increasing tendency to let things happen rather than working all out to make them happen, ... an increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to share it.

         So, here’s a suggestion for this Season of Advent 2025. Put your priority on the Sunday Advent readings. Use one each evening during or after dinner … Place a homemade Advent wreath on the table … Sing the refrain of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” And finally, we need to remember that Christmas is not just a day. It is an entire liturgical season. This year, the Christmas season is almost a full 19 days, beginning Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, and climaxing on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Sunday, January 11, 2026.

         There is plenty of time to host Christmas parties, play Christmas music, enjoy Christmas DVDs, and school programs throughout a whole 19 days. Did you know that some Catholic schools actually have their Christmas program and parties after everyone returns in January? Think about it. How many of you will have the Christmas tree out at the curb on January 2^nd or maybe even earlier? For those still celebrating ... that isn’t really Christmas ... is it??? ... What about “Little Christmas” also known as the Epiphany? The Epiphany is actually January 6^th, but we here in the United States celebrate it on the first Sunday after January 1^st, so January 4^th this year.

The world would like you to believe … the world would have you believe … that come January 1^st, Christmas is over … and most stores are gearing up for the Superbowl and Valentine’s Day ... but shouldn’t we all … as a Catholic parish, a Catholic school, all of our Catholic homes, as well as other Catholic institutions, be celebrating the same liturgical season all at the same time? And another piece of trivia. The Easter season is 40 days long, right? Easter Sunday to the Ascension. Well, the Christmas Season used to be 40 days long as well … Christmas to the Presentation of the Lord at the beginning of February. Why are we in such a rush? Perhaps this year we can refocus ourselves away from the secularism and the mad rush our culture imposes on us, and focus more toward hope, expectation, and spirituality. Rather than spending all our time preparing for Christmas celebrations, maybe instead during this Advent season, we can or should take some time to prepare for the birth of our Lord and Savior and focus a bit on eternity.

         So, ask yourselves, how do we … how should we … catch the Advent virus? We need to read ... the Advent readings … in advance … not just when you come to Mass. You need to share them as a family or with friends. Read them out of those liturgy aids or off your phone ahead of time and put them away as you enter church. When the lector is about to begin … just close your eyes and listen to the readings as they are being proclaimed at Mass. Let them truly resonate within you and let them sink into our heart. Perhaps then we can catch the Advent virus and we can become people of true joy and thankfulness ... people of Advent ... people of Christmas ... people of the Eucharist.le of Christmas ... people of the Eucharist.