My sisters and brothers in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. As we enter these four luminous weeks of Advent, the Church invites us into a time of hopeful expectation, an expectation that touches on every dimension of the Christian life.

Advent shines a gentle but insistent light on the three comings of Christ: His glorious return at the end of time, His humble birth in Bethlehem, and His daily arrival in the sacraments that sustain us, heal us, and renew our hearts. In these days, the Church whispers to us, live the liturgy, live the seasons, and let grace shape the rhythm of our days.

Advent is not merely a preparation for a holiday. It is a spiritual school that teaches us how to wait with faith, to watch with love, and to hope with courage and invite others to join us on this journey. St. John Paul II once said, “Advent is a time of waiting, of conversion, of hope, and it reminds us that God is faithful.”

He will fulfill the promises He made, and that is the very heartbeat of Advent. God is faithful. God keeps His promises. Even in seasons of uncertainty, the Church lifts our eyes and teaches us to walk confidently toward the Light that has already dawned upon the earth. Pope Benedict XVI, reflecting on the same mystery noted with serenity: “Advent invites us to pause in silence to understand a presence. It is an invitation to understand that the individual events of the day are hints that God is giving us.” What a beautiful way to understand this season: God's hints. God's gentle knock on the door of our hearts. God's quiet approach in the sacraments of penance and reconciliation, in the Eucharist, and in all the visible signs of His grace.

It would be an opportune moment to receive the sacrament of penance during this time of expectant waiting as we experience God's presence so close to us again. Around us, we see the outward signs of Christmas preparation: lights, garlands, the familiar melodies that stir our hearts with childhood memories, and giving just a little more to our parish, valued charities, and the ministries that help those in need as we welcome Christ at Christmas and those around us. These joys are real, and they lift our spirits. But Advent invites us to prepare inwardly as well. This is the season to walk in the Light of the Lord, allowing His truth to illuminate what must change, His mercy to heal what is wounded, and His love to rekindle what has grown cold.

In this Jubilee Year dedicated to hope, Advent takes on an even more radiant meaning. Hope is not merely wishful thinking. It is the confident assurance that God is working, that God is near, and that God will come again. Hope stands tall even in the face of darkness because Christ is our Light. Now, as we round home plate for this Jubilee Year, the Church calls us, once again, to lift up our heads, raise our hearts, and stay awake for the One Who is to come.

Christ will come again in glory. Christ has come in the humility of Bethlehem. Christ comes to us now in every Eucharist, every absolution and penance, and every sacrament that breaks into our lives with grace. My prayer for you is this: enter this season with hearts wide open to the mystery of God, be moved again by the wonder of Christmas, allow hope to take root in us so deeply that it becomes a radiant light for others, and walk with renewed joy in the Light of the Lord, watchful, grateful, and filled with expectation for the Savior Who comes to us and abides with us. Come, Lord Jesus.