During these weeks leading up to our Christmas celebrations, we are taking the time to prepare our homes, cleaning, decorating, and baking in anticipation of hosting guests and spending time celebrating with family and friends. Our preparations are significant of our attentiveness to our guests even long before they actually arrive at our door. As the family of God, our church home is adorned for Advent in purple fabrics. We light special candles on the Advent wreath each week and our scripture readings and music selections at Mass reflect this season of “wakeful anticipation.”
The entrance procession usually proceeds up the middle aisle each week, but during the four weeks of Advent, we have alternated the route to remind ourselves to prepare our spirits and to be watchful for the coming of Christ. In the Gospel for this first Sunday of Advent, Jesus admonishes us to “stay awake, for you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:42
Our Advent processional routes are designed to support our heightened attentiveness and the message of the Advent Gospel to stay awake, be watchful and be ready for God’s coming.
“So too, you also must be prepared for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.“
Matthew 24:44