1st Sunday of Advent 2025 - A Reflection on Waiting and Expectation

​The First Sunday of Advent ushers in a sacred time of waiting—a waiting that is not passive or anxious, but rich with expectation and faith. As we light the first Candle of Hope, we are reminded that hope is not mere optimism or wishful thinking; it is the steady flame that keeps our hearts awake to God’s promises even in the midst of darkness and uncertainty. Biblical hope is active, confident expectation that is rooted in God's faithfulness.

Advent invites us to slow down and rediscover the beauty of waiting. We live in a fast-paced world, where waiting often feels burdensome—we want instant answers, quick results, and immediate comfort. Yet God works in the quiet, in the whisper, molding and shaping us as we wait. 

Advent calls us to wait with expectation for Christ in three profound ways:

His First Coming - We journey alongside Mary and Joseph, feeling the anticipation of a world longing for its Messiah. The prophecies of Isaiah echo through the centuries:
 
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

We remember that God chose to enter our world not in power, not in a palace, but as a vulnerable infant, born in a stable; a reminder that hope often arrives differently than we expect: smaller, humbler, but no less transformative.

His Second Coming - The Gospel readings of this first week jolt us awake with urgency:

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.

Christ will come again, though we know neither the day nor the hour. This isn't meant to frighten us but to stir alertness, a readiness of heart in us. We are called to live as people who believe that our actions have eternal consequences, and recognize that all of history is moving toward the day when every tear will be wiped away and all things will be made new.

His Daily Presence - Perhaps most challenging of all, we wait for Christ who comes to us each day: in the breaking of bread, in moments of unexpected grace,  in the quiet prompting of conscience, in welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry, providing for the poor who need our help. How often do we miss Him because we're looking elsewhere, waiting for something more dramatic?

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
The candle of hope glows softly against the backdrop of the world's darkness, reminding us that it cannot overcome even the smallest light. Hope strengthens our faith when life feels uncertain. It’s the reminder that God’s love is steadfast, that His promises endure, and that even in the seeming delays, He is at work making all things new.

As we begin this Advent journey, may we allow this candle’s flame to enkindle in us a deeper, renewed trust in God’s faithfulness. Let us carry this hope into our relationships, our communities, and our world. Let us become beacons of light for those who are struggling to see beyond their disappointment, pain or loss.

In this season of waiting, may we prepare our hearts with hope, knowing that the One we await has already come among us and will come again to fulfill all things in love.

Peace,
Deacon Michel

​A Prayer for the First Week of Advent
Lord Jesus, as we light this first candle of hope, awaken us to your presence. Help us to wait with joyful expectation for your coming—remembering your birth with gratitude, anticipating your return with confidence, and recognizing your presence with us now in the ordinary moments of this day. Give us patience in our waiting and faithfulness in our watching. May the light of this single flame remind us that you are the Light of the World, and that no darkness can overcome you. Amen.