Advent Sunday - Year C - 29th November 2009

"Seek that which is above"

"The beautiful task of Advent is to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope" this was Pope Benedict XVI in a beautiful book published in 1986 called "Seek that Which is Above" containing mediations on various liturgical seasons and feasts throughout the year.

His thought and insight in the meaning of Advent and Christmastide will be our guide for this "Walk with Me" journey of Advent prayer.

This Journey built on the store of memories each of which is associated with the festivities of Christmas and the preparation needed for that feast and holiday.

The reflections remind us that our hope for the future rests on our memories of goodness from the past. As we explore these memories then goodness, gentleness, forgiveness and acceptance become real again.

What has been experienced can again be true. In remembering an experience of goodness we strengthen the hope of knowing such goodness in the future. The person who has no experience of goodness, or for whom the memory of it has been corrupted or lost, has little chance of nurturing hope for the future.

The most important and powerful memory we recall during Advent is the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, in Bethlehem, in the company of the animals in the stable and the shepherds summoned to greet him.

This Jesus is the Christ. He is the Eternal Word of God, the only Son of the Father. The memory of this incarnation of the Godhead is the source of our hope. In remembering that God has come to be with us, we hope that we may be with him, for the eternity of his life.

I hope that this Walk with Me will help you to reach deeply into your storehouse of rich memories. There will be many prompts to help you to do this in the weeks ahead.

I trust, too, that as you recall the goodness of the past you will grow in your hope for the future. May God guide your minds, and hearts this Advent that you will not forget or dismiss his blessings. May the Holy Spirit strengthen hope in your hearts and bring you to a joyful Christmas celebration.

The birth of this Eternal King is for ever the source of our hope.