Advent is a time that invites us to reflect deeply on the coming of Christ, to shake off indifference and to prepare our hearts to receive him with joy. The words of St. Augustine, full of strength and timelessness, challenge us directly:
“Awake, man: for you God became man. Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you. For you, I repeat, God became man.” (Sermon 185, 1).
This wake-up call reminds us that Christmas is not limited to an annual tradition or a simple historical event, but is a profound and transformative encounter with the mystery of God who takes on our humanity in order to save us.
In the same vein, Pope Francis exhorts us to live Advent as a time of spiritual awareness and renewal:
“Advent is a time to recognize the gaps we need to fill in our lives, to pave the paths that lead us to Him. It is a time to pause, to be silent and to ask ourselves how and for whom we are living our lives.” (Homily, December 2, 2018).
Active waiting: a commitment to hope
Active waiting: a commitment to hope St. Augustine insists on the need to be attentive, vigilant, and always focused on Christ, who is the source of our hope and guide on our journey. This message finds a profound echo in the words of Benedict XVI, who in his encyclical Spe Salvi stresses:
“Faith is not only a looking back, something that has already happened, but above all a looking forward, a certainty of what we hope for.” (Spe Salvi, 2).
Advent, then, should not be lived as a period of passivity, but as a time of active waiting, full of concrete gestures that reflect our personal and communitarian conversion. This spirit of preparation translates into works of love, charity and justice that not only transform our inner selves, but also the environment we inhabit, making it more worthy to receive Christ.
Christ, the light that dispels the darkness
In the midst of the difficulties and shadows that often envelop us, St. Augustine reminds us that Christ is the light that gives meaning and direction to our lives. Similarly, Pope Francis points out:
“Jesus comes to bring us the mercy of the Father, to show us the face of love that overcomes darkness and gives true peace.” (Homily, November 27, 2016).
This Advent, let us respond to Augustine’s invitation: let us awaken from the darkness of apathy, let us rise with hope and let the light of Christ illuminate every corner of our being. In community, let us make this time an opportunity to renew our faith, strengthen our hope and act with a more committed love for God and for others. May this Advent be a journey of inner transformation and renewed commitment to God’s love, so that, come Christmas, we may find in the Child of Bethlehem not only a light in the darkness, but also a source of peace, joy and salvation.