Watch and pray
We are only 11 days away from the great feast of Christmas — the most widely celebrated festival on earth — and we are already 13 days into the spiritual preparation for Christmas, known as the Advent season.
Unlike the Lent season, which continues for 46 days and is observed in preparation for Easter (Resurrection of Jesus), the Advent season lasts for a little over three weeks.
The word “advent” comes from the Old French advent, which is from the literary form auvent, originated from the Latin adventus meaning arrival. In French, however, the only meaning of the word is applied in Christian tradition, to the coming of the Saviour, which is the period of the Nativity (Jesus’ birth) beginning about four weeks before Christmas.
During this time, besides the change in the colour of vestments during liturgy, altar cloths and Advent wreath, the faithful are also instructed to prepare themselves spiritually so as to be able to welcome and receive once again symbolically the “Saviour of the world” in the person of baby Jesus. The first day of Advent spells out its theme, which can be summed up in just three words — “watch and pray”.
But what is one expected to “watch” against and “pray” for? Luke records in his gospel Jesus’ words warning about the terrible times before the end of the world. Jesus says, “But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the son of man” (Luke 21: 34-36).
Notwithstanding the rumours, fed by superstition and fear about the end of the world this very month, what Jesus means here is we must live our lives in such a way that if we were called by God to our heavenly abode at any time, we should be found in a ready state. And prayers can certainly facilitate a great deal in living that kind of life. Prayers here don’t mean being verbose or reciting endless hymns from our prescribed books but to develop a prayerful attitude which would help us realise the presence of God or the divine always and in every person we meet, including those who are inimical towards us.
When we live that kind of life, we will be prepared, not only to meet our God anytime but to be able to celebrate all our festivals, nay life, with greater joy, serenity and realisation.
Father Dominic Emmanuel is currently the director of communication of the Delhi Catholic Church.
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