St. Mary's Catholic Church of Tomahawk, WI

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We are in the new liturgical year cycle A, with the beginning of the Advent season. The first reading from the first week of Advent begins with a multifaceted vision from Isaiah. In it we see a mountain, The Lord God, God’s temple, nations, instruction from Torah, God’s ways and paths, and warriors-turned-farmers. These elements together make up a unified constellation or image of God’s plan for humanity. But what is our plan during Advent to meet our God who humbled from Divinity to humanity?

The second reading offers two images aiming at characterizing the state in which followers of Jesus have to find themselves. The first is waking from sleep to be ready to meet the Lord, meaning to be alive and vibrant. It is not just awaiting the coming celebration of Christmas but also the second coming of Christ.

In the gospel the Lord gives us images of His own time about the coming of the Son of Man. He recalls the time of Noah and the events of the flood. Thus using imagery that conveys sudden changes, the Lord urges us to be properly vigilant with regard to His return. Wakefulness describes our spiritual state proper for one who awaits His coming. During this Advent let us renew the fervor of our hope, during this jubilee year of hope, as we await the Lord’s coming.

Fr. Aloysius Royan Anthony