Repent and Pray, the End Is Near

Advent as the foreshadowing of the Second Coming

On the first Sunday of Advent, Father D., reminded us in his homily that Advent—while certainly a time for joyful anticipation and happy festivities—is also a time for repentance and vigilance.

The reason: It foreshadows not just the birth of Jesus Christ but his Second Coming as well. That’s why, in the early days of December, there’s a lot of talk about the end of days in the Mass readings.

We are told by Jesus himself to “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. […] May [the lord of the house] not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all, ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:33–37)