Every year again

Yesterday the Advent season began again. In contrast to all the hectic in the world, it should be a time of peace and contemplation for all Christians. Especially now, when we experience quite a stressful period in most occupations, we are permitted to take a break in-between and look forward to that which lies ahead.

During this time, it was quite stressful for Mary too. Heavily pregnant, as she was, she had to travel to her home town with Joseph to partake in the census. What all lies ahead of us during these next four weeks until Christmas? And especially now it is important to take a break in-between the pending tasks and allow ourselves some rest.

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus came to us from His Father, to give us a foretaste of that which we will one day experience, when we appear in God’s glory. He said: Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. He wants to give us the peace and power which we so often lack in the world.

Yes, we should prepare ourselves for this Jesus, now during the Advent time. Just as He came once, He will return again – and we can celebrate that anew every year. Whether we give gifts to one another or show our love for each other – in all this we may reflect the example of Jesus who personified love.

He came to prove His love for mankind, to pour out His grace upon us and open the way to the Father, for us. Now we have access to the Father, for all time and not only during the Advent time!

I wish you a blessed Advent time at which point you again focus your eyes on Him who brought us our salvation!

Rainer Gigerich