The Latin work Adventus translates into English simply as "coming," or "arrival," or "in-breaking." As Christians, we experience Advent as that unique time each year when we are invited and encouraged to pause, slow down, look up, be alert, stay awake, look around, notice, watch and see that the beauty and mystery of our God is indeed coming again into our human condition, in-breaking into our wounded and struggling human family through the Word-Made-Flesh, Jesus the Christ, who is the light of our all-too- darkened world.

For the next four weeks we all need to take some time each day to listen to the voices of Advent: Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Mary, the Mater Dei. Setting aside eight or ten minutes in the morning or evening or sometime in between is imperative if we really hope to taste and savor the power, beauty and utter joy of their words that reveal God's truth to us about what is at the very core of our existence. Their voices open for us the profound mystery of Christ's in-breaking in us and our world, unfolding moment-by-moment and day-by-day.

We need to resolve, as we enter this First Week of Advent, that, with God's grace, we as individuals and as a community of believers at St. Ignatius Parish, will commit ourselves to take time on a daily basis to open the scriptures, to ponder and pray over the word of God, listening to God's voice echoing through Isaiah, the Baptist and Mary.

Together we need to dedicate ourselves to a daily time for prayer so that together we shall arrive at the Great Feast of Lights on that "silent night," that "holy night," knowing Jesus more intimately, loving him more ardently, and following him more closely. What a special gift that will be for each one of us personally. And what a gift it will be for our whole parish to experience Jesus collectively in our parish community in this ever deeper and more profound way.