The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival," the coming of Christ as Savior and the second coming of Christ as King of the Universe. Advent is not simply the season to mark a 2,000-year-old event in history, but much more and much deeper, it is the celebration of the Truth of God, which He revealed through His Son. It is a process in which we participate the beginning and the consummation of the revelation. The readings of the Advent Season help us to reflect and meditate on our entire salvation history, including the themes of accountability, faithfulness, judgment at His second coming, and the hope of eternal life.
It is a season of double focuses, the past and the future. It is a spiritual journey of individuals as family, congregation, and people of God. It is the time to affirm that Christ has come, He is present in the world now, and He will come again in power. This affirmation should lead us to deepen our faith, which will provide ways and means to be steadfast in our search for kingdom ethics and to live much holier lives. It is time to celebration God's in-breaking presence in our history through the incarnation, and a time to wait eagerly for the redemption. St. Paul was very conscious about it when he wrote, "All creation is groaning and awaiting for its redemption."
Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, anticipation, preparation, and longing. The whole creation is waiting eagerly for deliverance from the evil one. It is a total liberation; liberation from sin and death through the birth of Christ and through the final judgment when He will appear in glory. The chosen people experienced it when they were in slavery in Egypt. The intensity of the slavery they experienced, physically and spiritually, is being experienced now by people who feel the burden of sin. YAHAWA (God) delivered the chosen people through His servant Moses. For the people of the New Testament, God sent His Son to deliver us from the slavery of sin.
The Israelites cried to YAHAWA out of their bitter experience of oppression. Now it is the cry of modern people who personally and collectively experience the tyranny of injustice and oppression under the curse of sin. Advent is the time of putting our hope and trust in a God who heard the cries of oppressed slaves in Egypt and delivered them into the Promised Land. It is the time of anticipating the reign of an anointed one, the Messiah, who will bring peace, justice, and righteousness to the world. It is an expectation of a God who will come to set the world in order.
There was a difference in thought from the Old Testament and Judaism regarding the coming of the Messiah. They were not waiting in connection with remembrance of sin or forgiveness of sin. It was not a waiting for deliverance from personal sin, but from oppression and injustice inflicted upon the people of God by the emperors of Egypt and Rome. For the New Testament, Christ's coming was for deliverance from personal guilt and sin.
Instead of looking for deliverance from any king or king

doms, the spirit of Advent and our expected hope is well expressed in the words of the Prophet Isaiah (9:2-6):
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing. As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames. For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David's throne and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.
Again, we find the spirit of Advent in the parable of the wise virgins in the Gospel of St. Matthew (Matthew 25:1-13). There is a profound joy experienced by the virgins waiting for the bridegroom, and a note of warning and expectation echoes through the parables.
When Advent and Christmas are being portrayed in a completely secular and materialistic way through the media, how can we focus on educating our family on the real meaning of Advent and Christmas? I believe there are many suggestions in everyone's mind for letting our children know about Christmas as the birthday of Our Savior:
Go to Church. It sounds simple. Many people minimize the Christmas celebration of Mass on Christmas Day. Experience something different from other holy days by pulling the children out of bed for Midnight Mass and instilling in their minds the need to go, like the shepherds, to worship the newborn babe of Bethlehem. Have a family nativity set. Every home should have a nativity set placed in a prominent place in the family room during the Advent Season. It would be very exciting for children to have a personal nativity set in their own bedrooms! Read the Bible. We should read to children the narrative of Our Savior's birth. It is the best way to convey the message of Christmas. Enjoy Advent. This is the time of waiting, longing, and preparing our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ. Children can be motivated by religious and Advent symbols like wreaths with Advent candles which are to be lit before dinner with a short prayer everyday.
Choosing gifts and giving gifts. It is the time of giving gifts, and children should be taught to give and receive gifts. If you are preparing to give gifts to children, try to include some religious items, too. These are the gifts which would help them to focus their attention on God and symbols of His Kingdom. Make family time. The most important time for the family to be together is for meals, which include recreation and family prayers. Wishing you God's blessing for the Advent preparation!