Recently, my wife and I were walking around a Costco in San Diego, and to our amazement the store was bombarded with everything Christmas. It seems like every year Christmas décor and bargain sales start earlier than the previous year, and because of that Advent becomes one of the most underrated seasons in the life of the Church. That’s a pity because the importance of Advent calls us to focus our intentions and actions in order to prepare for and celebrate His coming at Christmas and beyond.

The season of Advent marks a key moment in the life of the Church. Advent begins the Church’s year and marks the period when we begin to look forward to the coming of Christ once more in our lives. This impending visit by Jesus invites us to take seriously the call by Isaiah to “prepare the way” by reflecting on the past, praying in the present, and hoping for the future. Life as an Augustinian Volunteer calls all of us to participate in that preparation in real ways. And so, I would like to take some time and reflect on the ways in which we have prepared ourselves for what we have already experienced, as well as what is to come in the remaining months of the volunteer year.

Prepare your mind. Even before arriving to AV orientation, you have been preparing for this volunteer year. Whether that is at a logistical, emotional, mental, or spiritual level, preparation was vital for your arrival. You left your family, friends, and comfort zone to embark on an adventure open to mystery. Your life has led you to this point. The choices you have made, the prayers you have prayed, and your trust in God has called each and every one of you to where you are. This preparation is crucial to the life of the Augustinian Volunteer because through it, each volunteer commits himself/herself to the mission of the program fully. But your preparation doesn’t stop there.

Prepare your heart. Besides the logistical and psychological preparation, there is also a need for a preparation of your heart. Jesus meets us where we are and that is most commonly in the people we interact with on a daily basis. Thus, by living as an Augustinian Volunteer you are embodying the preparation needed for Christmas.  Jesus is in your community members, He is in your co-workers, He is in the friars, He is in your neighbor. And because of that, the heart needs time to prepare for all that will be experienced. You have already had great experiences of joy as well as challenges, and these will continue throughout the year. What is important is how we receive these experiences. Is your heart open to where God is leading you? Advent calls us to embark on this road of preparation in order that we may see Christ in others and welcome them into our heart. And yet, there is still more preparation needed.

Prepare your spirit. By preparing your mind and heart, you have allowed yourself to take seriously the call as an Augustinian Volunteer to live faith-filled lives in community and for others. But all of this aims at something more: growing intimately closer to God and bringing others with you. If all we did was show up and serve, that would be great, but being an Augustinian Volunteer calls us to take that experience and use it to grow closer in our faith, hope, and love. In preparing our spirit for Christmas, we acknowledge that in order to give to others what we have, we also need to refresh ourselves with the presence of God. It is our constant prayer for our community that roots us in the hope that Christ’s coming will transform the world in a real way.

And so, this season of Advent I invite you to live the season out in its entirety. Allow this time to continue to form and prepare you for Jesus’ coming. Christmas will come soon enough, but Advent grants us the grace and time to become receptive to all that God has to offer us: faith, hope, and love.

Andrew McMillin

AV Alum, Lawrence 07-08

Rejoice.  Rejoice in poverty for it is all around.  Rejoice in homelessness for many are without shelter.  Rejoice in death for some are left orphaned.  Rejoice in AIDS for it causes great suffering.  The 2^nd reading tells us  “Rejoice always.”

When some people see poverty they see laziness; when they see a homeless man they see a drunk; when they see AIDS they see irresponsibility.  As an AV, past or present, our eyes have been opened.  God has given us the gift to see beyond the stereotypes and unveil the mask of poverty, homelessness, death, AIDS; and sitting behind the injustice and sorrow is a man, a woman, a child, a human being.  That God has chosen you, just as he chose John to baptize, is something to rejoice in.  He has handpicked you to be an instrument of His love.  Do not take despair in what is not present (food, shelter, health), but rather rejoice in what is present: You, and your student, client, co-worker, patient, or friend.  Rejoice in the relationships and bonds that have formed; rejoice that you are willing and capable of sharing stories, laughter, tears, hugs, hands, of sharing your love with another.

Sure, it’s a daunting task to feel all happy and glad when constantly faced with situations we can’t understand, but we must look a little deeper and open our eyes a little wider.  

And so “Rejoice always:” in the opportunity to help a hungry child read or have a conversation with a struggling mother of three; in sharing a meal with a lonely stranger; in a life lived and a soul that becomes an angel; in unwavering faith and hope despite desperate situations.  And do not stop rejoicing; and do not keep the soul-filled moments of rejoicing to yourself.  For your eyes have been opened, but many are still blind.  What a blessing it is to have the responsibility granted by God to reach out, take the hand of someone who does not see behind the mask of injustice and show them what it means to rejoice in the goodness of humanity of all God’s precious people.  This Advent and always, Rejoice.

Mary Dillon

AV Alum, Lawrence 04-05, South Africa 05-07

Living in community provides a rich opportunity to put Christ at the center of your life.  I remember conversations and prayers with my community members causing me to see certain situations in a new light.  Sometimes there were stressful moments at work when I would take a deep breath and re-frame my thinking in a more spiritual way.  Other times, I would come home upset and one of my community members would offer a new way of looking at things and offer a suggestion for the next day.  That shared reflection was a crucial part of my experience, allowing me to grow spiritually and recognize God’s presence in new ways.

The first reading today calls us to give comfort to God’s people and prepare the way for the Lord. I must admit, my first glance left me feeling uneasy.  This advent marks two years since my return from Peru, and regrettably I seem to have lost my sense of urgency.  I wonder how many AV alumni have returned from full time service and faced a similar experience.  The second reading is of some reassurance, reminding us that God is patient and wishes the best for us.  But the fact remains that the clock is ticking.  

In light of this reminder, I propose the following:  

Current AV’s: Take advantage of all you have been given. Trust your community members and challenge one another in specific ways to live in a more purposeful, Christian way.  Re-evaluate what simple living means or discuss how your ideas of solidarity have progressed or changed throughout the year. Set personal goals for prayer and how you interact with others. Your time as AV’s will move quickly, so I encourage you to take advantage of one of your greatest resources- each other.

AV Alumni: Don’t forget to reflect upon how your AV experiences have changed and shaped your perspective. Identify which forces in your life are motivating you to live as the Gospel demands, prioritize those influences, and seek out new ways to challenge and motivate yourself.  Reach out to a community member to share your thoughts and perhaps challenge each other to set new spiritual goals.

Regardless of your situation, I invite each  of you to consider the following passage as a challenge:

God can be found and glorified in any situation. Is there an area of your life where you might reach out to another in need? Have you tried to rely only on yourself in difficult situations?  Take a moment to envision the whole world preparing for the coming of the Lord. What is your role going to be?

Volunteers, especially those living in community, are blessed with constant reminders of the need for prayer, compassion, and acts of service. It takes patience and persistence to respond to those needs, but support systems make it possible. Advent is a special time of preparation to reflect on the fundamentals of our faith.  It is through our care and concern for others that we may begin to prepare ourselves.  May we all experience a blessed Advent and hold onto or recapture a faithful sense of urgency for Christ.

Liz Farrey-Jette

AV Alum, Peru 2009

Isaiah 63 speaks of the act of us wandering from the Lord’s intentions. Caught up in the busyness of everyday life, we often do not acknowledge our own imperfections unless we take the time to reflect upon them. Just as the people beckon for God to return to them for guidance and support, we are called home during the holiday season to be present to our families and communities.

If we allow it, Advent can become an opportunity for reflection, self-improvement and spiritual closeness with God. As Isaiah states, “we are the clay and you the potter; we are all the work of your hands,” and we have the power to utilize our unique gifts and talents to serve the Lord. As volunteers, you are realizing the power of your God-given talents to serve those in need. You have been called to be Augustinian Volunteers so that you can be the work of God’s hands. 

Our second reading from 1 Corinthians speaks of thankfulness, a word that is repeated most often during the time of Thanksgiving. As we approach Christmas, let us give thanks for the many blessings in our lives that we often take for granted. Reflect upon God’s grace, for which we are asked to give thanks. As Corinthians states, it is God’s influence that has enriched our lives, and as volunteers, the impact of your work is so clear. It can be seen every day in the faces of those you serve: the children in the schools, the hungry to which you serve meals at the soup kitchen, the homeless to which you bring hope through your work. 

As we enter the Advent season, let us recall our motivation to be Catholics in service. We are the work of God’s hands, so act in accordance to God’s will. While our vision can sometimes become clouded by distractions of material worth as Christmas approaches, let us remember our reason for gathering in celebration, and use this to do good work with God’s hands.

Alex Gallucci

AV Alum, Lawrence, MA 2009-2010