By Bishop Robert W. Finn
Bishop of Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
December 1, 2006

The month of the poor souls has drawn to a close. Beginning with All Saints and All Souls days we have been reminded in November of our communion with those who have gone before us. We are joined to them most closely at the altar. We pray for our faithful departed always, and frequently call upon the saints for intercession.
In these last days of the church's liturgical year it is important for us to reflect on the "four last things": death, judgment, heaven, hell. The church teaches that these are objective realities that every human person will face at the end of time. We will all die and be judged. We will have an eternal life in heaven or hell. If we die with sanctifying grace, but still need to atone for the corporal punishment due our sins, we will live a time of purgation or cleansing before entering heaven. This is what the church calls purgatory (Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1030-1032).

As we enter Advent in preparation for Christmas, we see how the different "comings of Christ" are linked. Christmas celebrates his first coming in the Incarnation: Jesus' birth into our human condition. Meanwhile, the readings of these last weeks have reminded us of the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time. Both the birth of Jesus and his final coming are real historical events. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, "When the church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present (the) ancient expectancy of the Messiah (foretold by Old Testament prophets and announced by St. John the Baptist), for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for His second coming" (no. 524).

While our Advent time helps us to joyously look to the coming of Christ at Bethlehem, it must also and ultimately be part of our whole life's preparation for the Judgment Day. If we dread the Second Coming of Christ, it could be that we may not be living the full meaning of his First Coming at Christmas!

What shall we do to make this Advent preparation part of a joyous anticipation of Jesus Christ the judge?

We could try, with prayer, to be more patient in waiting for God's solutions in our life. While we do not neglect our legitimate responsibilities, we need not always force a resolution by human means.

Trusting in God more, we could ready ourselves to receive the gifts God wishes to give us. We could be less demanding about getting what we want.
In the preaching of St. John the Baptist, it is clear that Advent has a penitential dimension. Like Lent, this can be observed in new commitments to prayer, penance or self-discipline, and generous giving. Heeding the call of St. John, make a good two-minute examination of conscience each night, and go to the sacrament of confession more often.
Christmas must help us become Christ-centered. Keep Christ in Christmas by keeping him - and his church - in your heart. St. Augustine wrote to his flock, "Let us not resist his first coming, so that we may not dread the second."

END