Pastoral Message for the First Sunday of Advent 2025

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., has shared this message for the First Week of Advent.

“Stay awake, for you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24:42)
As we enter the holy season of Advent, the Church invites us once again to lift our eyes toward the horizon of hope. Advent is far more than a countdown to Christmas; it is a sacred journey of expectation, preparation, and renewal. It is a time when the People of God pause long enough to remember that our lives are guided not by chance, but by promise—God’s promise to remain with us and to come to us anew.

A Season of Watchfulness
On this First Sunday of Advent, Jesus calls us to stay awake. His words are not meant to instill fear but to awaken desire—holy attentiveness to the quiet ways in which Christ is already at work in our lives. In a world crowded with noise, activity, and distraction, Advent gently whispers: Slow down. Breathe. Pay attention. If we allow ourselves to be still, we may discover that God’s light is already breaking through places where we least expected it.

The first week of Advent gives us three invitations.
 First, “Awaken Hope”
Hope, the theme of this Jubilee Year, is the first candle we light, the first grace we receive. To awaken hope is to trust that God is faithful, even when circumstances feel uncertain. This week, let us rekindle hope in our families, workplaces, and communities—through encouraging words, gestures of patience, or simply by choosing to believe that God is not finished with us yet.

Next, “Practice Watchfulness”
Advent watchfulness is active, not passive. It is the watchfulness of love, which is attuned to the needs of others, ready to respond with compassion. We stay awake when we listen to those who feel unheard, reach out to those who feel unseen, and stand alongside those who feel forgotten. Every act of kindness becomes a doorway where Christ enters.
Finally, “Prepare Room”
Just as Mary opened her heart to receive the Word made flesh, we too are called to make room for Christ. Preparing room may require letting go of resentment, extending forgiveness, or creating moments of silence for prayer. When we clear even a small space within us, God fills it with grace far beyond what we could imagine.

Advent provides Light in the Darkness
The candles of the Advent wreath remind us that even the smallest flame can pierce the deepest night. As we light the first candle this week, may it become a sign of our readiness to welcome Christ—not only in the joyful celebration of Christmas, but in every moment where love is needed, justice is demanded, and mercy is possible.

Walking Together in Hope
Let us journey through this week with hearts awakened, eyes lifted, and spirits eager. Christ is coming—He always comes. He comes in our prayer, in our neighbor, in our longing for holiness, and in the quiet courage of hope.

May we be found ready, joyful, and radiant with His light.