Editorial: Advent: A season of hope

Advent — the season leading up to Christmas that begins the church’s liturgical year — is also one of its most beautiful seasons, a time of peaceful, quiet preparation, preparing our hearts for the coming of the Lord and waiting in confidence. 

As is well known, this season, which includes four Sundays, is awaiting the coming — the “advent” — of Jesus, in the Nativity at Christmas, at the end of time, and in our hearts. 

It is, therefore, also a season of hope, trusting in the God who keeps his promises. He kept his ancient promise to the people of Israel to send the long-awaited Messiah, which we celebrate at Christmas. We look to the keeping of Jesus’ promise that he will “come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,” which will mark for creation its conclusion, where justice and mercy will meet. 

And for ourselves, wherever we are in our walk of faith, we look for God to keep his promises to us, that he will keep company with those who love him with the obedience of faith. 

Therefore we can truly pray, at Advent and until the end of time: “Come, Lord Jesus!”