Por Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB –

The ‘Day of Christ’ that holds our interest is not the day of His second coming but that of the Child cradled in the elder Simeon’s arms at the newborn Child’s presentation in the Temple. Gazing at the baby Simeon says, “This child is meantfor the rise and fall of many.” He sees “salvation.” He thanks the Holy Spirit, whose promise that he would see the Messiah is fulfilled, and he says, “This child is a light for the nations, the Glory of his popple Israel.” The “Day of Christ” for Simeon is His birthday and all that the birthday of Jesus means. It is Christmas. 

Likewise, for us, Jesus is “the Holy One” spoken of and promised by the prophet Baruch. He is the longed-for Messiah, and Baruch speaks of His coming and Jerusalem’s return from the mourning and misery of exile caused by sin. The new people of the Holy One will rejoice, and the new Jerusalem, the Church, saved from sin will be returned to joy at the Messiah’s birth. 

As for St. Paul, in the second reading, our task is to approach the coming of Christ blamelessly. He expects us to yearn for His rebirth in liturgy. It ought to be a time to redouble our efforts to respect that God truly shared His divinity with our humanity in Jesus, God, and man. He shared with us to enable us to share in His divinity. 

Thus, Paul urges us to be his partners in sharing the Gospel. Paul too so eloquently prays that the power of the Lord be with us until the Day of Christ Jesus. He asks us to cultivate affection for Him, work among one another, and hence, “Be blameless for the day of Christ.” Is it so hard to be affectionate toward this human-divine Child as we hold Him to our hearts? 

St. Luke in the Gospel reminds us even now to enkindle our respectful love for the Child Jesus as we await His new spiritual rebirth. He comes, and we yearn for Him. As John the Baptist bids us, we pray, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” Further, says John, for ways of sin, fill those valleys, bring low the mountains, straighten winding crooked ways, make rough ways smooth. This is our Advent task. 

Come, Child Jesus, Lord of Glory!  We Love You!