What I have seen and heard


	Bishop Gregory

One of the more popular commercials is the one for “the little purple pill” that claims to ease gastric distress. Well, we’re here in that little “purple” time of year once again, and this time of year brings its own increase of gastric and psychic distress.

Advent is quite often the most forgotten liturgical season. It competes with shopping, home preparations, cooking, and all the events that fill up our days and hours before Christmas. Advent can be as short as 22 days and as long as 27 days. It does not approach the length or the intensity of Lent – the other “purple” time of year.

Admittedly, Advent began as a replica of Lent — a preparation for the Christmas mystery as Lent is a preparation time for the Paschal mystery. Yet Advent has its own special function for the spiritual life. Advent utters a soft yet persistent message — “it’s about God’s Gift — not any of ours.”

Advent is the season that depends upon the images of light and darkness, about majesty and littleness, about reliability and insecurity. In other words, Advent is all about differences and contrasts.

Advent is about God and us — and, as you might have guessed, God always wins. The Father’s love for his Son is perfect and eternal. Yet the Father makes a gift of his Son for our salvation. God’s gift is perfect and without parallel. As we go about finding, purchasing, and wrapping our gifts, we need to remember that the gift we receive is more important and complete than any gift we might purchase for another. Advent also reminds us that the best gifts are for those who are poor and needy — as God envisioned us in sending us his Son.

Advent also has its own cast of characters: Isaiah is the prophet of the hour. John the Baptist is the announcer of the mystery. Jesus’ relatives, Mary, Joseph, and Elizabeth provide the family setting into which this extraordinary baby is born. We all consider family an important dimension of this time of year. We long to be with our families and loved ones at Christmas time. And so it is most appropriate that the Church reminds us that Jesus himself had a family — a family filled with the most extraordinary personalities.

Mary is that young woman who believes and submits and accepts with the most profound trust. Joseph is the fiancé who had the courage to marry “the girl of his dreams.” Elizabeth, is the elderly woman of faith who continued to marvel at God’s ability to fulfill his promises under the most extraordinary circumstances. Each of these personalities is unique and special. We can see from the members of Christ’s own family where he must have received his own gifts and virtues. Jesus had good examples from which to learn as “he grew in wisdom and grace” as a youngster in that home in Nazareth.

Our Diocese of Belleville has the splendid custom of hosting the Bishop’s Dinner on Christmas day — an occasion that allows hundreds of people to be generous and caring for the poor and lonely in our own midst. That dinner brings together and provides for hundreds of people a family meal and sharing environment. It seems to be a perfect way to conclude “the little purple time of year” in a manner that God himself must approve.

May this Advent provide you with the time and the opportunity to reflect on what God has done for you and may it encourage you to be loving and generous in return.

The Messenger
2620 Lebanon Ave.
Belleville, IL 62221
phone: 618-235-9601
fax: 618-235-7416