You probably didn’t hear the Entrance Antiphon at Mass this morning. The Church opens her liturgical chants with this beautiful Psalm which expresses her confidence “as the beloved bride of Jesus.” As we lift up our hearts and our voices with all the Church, we rejoice in this first Advent day, “for the Savior comes to each of us in proportion to the earnestness of our longing for him.”

To you, I lift up my soul, O my God.
In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame.
Nor let my enemies exult over me;
and let none who hope in you be put to shame. see Psalm 25

The beginning of any liturgical season shakes us awake from any fatigue or boredom that prevents us from stretching our roots deep into the soil of God’s Mystery, into the ultimate meaning of God’s life and ours…love. Each liturgical season focuses our attention around the way we have been loved into being, the way we are loved and redeemed, and the way we can become love for others.

So on this first day of Advent the Church has us pray that we “resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming so that, gathered at his right hand, [we] may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom.” (see Opening Prayer)