Advent: A Season of Gratefulness

From Our Spiritual Advisor:

“To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” This verse is from Ecclesiastes 3:1–11 is a frequent first reading for funeral Masses. In Ecclesiastes, the ancient wisdom scripture writers were trying to pass along the knowledge, wisdom, instruction, and tradition of the faith to the younger Israelites. They do so to us as well. The words of this scripture passage show us God’s presence in all situations. But do we let him into all aspects of our life? Pondering this scripture passage in preparation for a recent funeral, it seems to me this passage applies to Advent too. As we enter Advent, Ecclesiastes reminds us that God weaves all moments—joy and sorrow, waiting and fulfillment—into His eternal plan. Advent itself is a season of holy waiting, a time to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming, both in Bethlehem and at the end of time. It is a time for us to remind ourselves to let God into our daily lives.

In this rhythm of seasons, we are invited to let the Holy Trinity dwell in every aspect of our daily lives. The Father gives us life and purpose, the Son redeems our time through His Incarnation, and the Spirit sanctifies our ordinary moments. When we welcome the Trinity into our learning, our work, our families, our joys, and even our struggles, we discover that no season is wasted. Each moment becomes an opportunity for grace.

Gratefulness is the posture that allows us to see God’s hand in all things. Even in Northwest Ohio’s harvested fields of late fall and early winter, where the earth seems barren, gratitude teaches us to trust that God is at work beneath the surface. Advent gratitude is not passive—it is active, opening our eyes to blessings hidden in daily life: the love of family, the warmth of community, the gift of faith, the hope of Christ’s light breaking into darkness.

This gratitude naturally flows into action through mercy, especially the Corporal Works of Mercy. Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead are not tasks for another season—they are Advent acts of preparation. My home parish of All Saints in New Riegel, recently installed new windows in our church. The beautiful windows are illustrations of the Last Judgement and the Corporal Works of Mercy. They serve as a perfect stop for an Advent pilgrimage. For those who gaze upon them, these windows serve to instruct, inspire, and challenge: A challenge see God’s presence in all situations and a challenge to love our neighbor and even our enemy. They also serve as an examination of conscience as we contemplate how well we live out the Corporal Works of Mercy and what that means for our final judgement. By serving Christ in our neighbor, we make room for Him in our hearts. In a world often marked by division and weariness, mercy becomes the sign that Emmanuel—God with us—is truly present not just in Advent but throughout the year.

As Cursillistas, we are called to let God into all parts of our lives. We are called to live the message of His Incarnate Word with joy and perseverance. Advent is not only about waiting; it is about embodying Christ’s love in the here and now. Let us embrace this season with grateful hearts, attentive to the Trinity’s presence, and committed to mercy in action. In doing so, we proclaim that every time and season belongs to God, and that His coming is not only near—it is already among us.

De Colores!

Deacon Greg Siebenaller (made my Cursillo in late November 1987)