he Church through the liturgical season of Advent every year prepares us to fittingly celebrate the solemnity of the Birth of Jesus (born of the Virgin Mary). God made Himself visible in His Son the Eternal Word, who became man among men. "The Church has always kept this season (Advent) in a special way. So, we too must continue to celebrate it fittingly, giving praise and thanks to the Eternal Father for the mercy He has shown us in this mystery of the coming of His only begotten Son" (St. Charles Borromeo).

“his was His first coming over 2000 years ago. The second coming of Jesus Christ will take place at the end of time when He will come in glory and majesty to judge the world. In between the first coming and His second coming there is another coming which is hidden. This intermediary coming is like a road leading from the first to the last coming. It is the coming of Jesus within ourselves, to grow in His likeness, so that His presence will be manifest in each and everyone who bears the name of Christian. It is the building up of His Kingdom on earth through those who believe in Him. This is the time perhaps when we can ask ourselves in what way and how well we Christians bear a likeness to Jesus Christ in the building of His Kingdom in our lives first and then in the life of others.

"e is ready to come to us again at any time, if we remove all barriers, to make His home spiritually within us in all His grace," (St. Charles Borromeo) "Like those pilgrims of two thousand years ago, the men and women of our time ask us believers not only to `speak' of Christ, but in a certain sense to `show' Him to them. Is it not the church's task to reflect the light of Christ, to make His face shine also before the new generations?" "But our witness would be inadequate if we ourselves had not first contemplated His face. "What must we do?" (Acts 2:37) we ask ourselves too. We have to start afresh from Christ to rediscover the plan found in the Gospel and in living Tradition which has its center in Christ Himself, who is to be known, loved and imitated so that in Him we may live the life of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and with Him transform history until its fulfillment in the heavenly Jerusalem" (Pope John Paul II).

"ike John the Baptist we are called to be His heralds to prepare the way for His coming into the hearts and lives of others. Let us share with others the joy of a truly Christian Christmas. Let us remember that Jesus wants us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. "Let us go forward in hope! A new millennium has opened before the Church like a vast ocean upon which we shall venture, relying on the help of Christ. The Son of God, who became incarnate two thousand years ago out of love for humanity, is at work even today: we need discerning eyes to see this and, above all, a generous heart to become the instruments of His work" (Novo Millennio Ineunte 58).