The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
I experienced the death of family and friends early in life, all of whom died “too soon.” My friend and babysitter, a high school senior on the precipice of graduating, lost his life in a car accident; my aunt, once a beacon of light, succumbed to mental health struggles; and my ambitious uncle died of a quickly progressing illness. Mass readings like today’s seemed to confirm my fear—when I least expected it, Jesus would snatch all those I held dear before any of us were ready.
It won’t surprise you to learn that I developed anxiety over death. My mother was prone to illness; some nights, I would climb out of bed and sneak into her room to check that she was still breathing. My father traveled frequently for work; my stomach would be in knots until a phone call or postcard arrived. Advent is meant to be a time of joyful anticipation, a season that motivates us to ready our hearts for the ongoing arrival of Jesus Christ in our lives. My younger self opted to skip Advent because I was afraid of the apocalyptic messaging. I chose instead to focus on Christmas, which celebrates birth and peace—and presents!
As an adult, I made a concerted effort to heal my relationship with the Advent season and to engage more deeply with the messages of the readings. What once read to me like a sinister warning now projects hope. Isaiah and St. Paul write of a community of believers who strive together to follow the path toward God. They encourage us to shake off complacency—to wake up!—and remember that our life’s purpose is to be united with the Lord who loves us. Their words, and Jesus’ words in the gospel, are a call to be mindful of how we comport ourselves because, believe it or not, God also awaits with great anticipation for the day He will draw us back to Himself. And He wants us to be ready.
If “the end” brings you as much fear as it did my younger self (and I still have panic attacks from time to time), I encourage you to bring those fears to Jesus. He represents new beginnings and wants to transform your dread into hope. May His love for us overtake all the things that scare us and bring us peace.
Perpetua Cannistraro works as a book publicist in Boston, Massachusetts. She loves the Lord, TV, Disney princesses, books, 90s-00s teen pop, and the color pink. Say hi on Instagram!
