Advent Messages from JPII (Part 1)

I realize that we're already half-way through Advent but I decided that I wanted to do something to mark Advent on my blog. This past summer, the theme for World Youth Day was from Matthew 2:2, "We have come to worship Him." As we prepare our hearts to worship Him and make our way towards union with Christ this advent season, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on the words of Pope John Paul II from his message for the 20th World Youth Day. This message was put out in the summer of 2004 calling the youth of the world, sure to World Youth Day, but more importantly, to Christ.

I'll post it in segments (their are seven segments in all). Here is the first segment:

My dear young people!

1. This year we have celebrated the 19^th World Youth Day, meditating on the desire expressed by some Greeks who had gone to Jerusalem for the Passover: "We wish to see Jesus" (Jn 12:21). And here we are now, making our way to Cologne where, in August 2005, the 20^th World Youth Day is to be celebrated.

"We have come to worship him" (Mt 2:2): this is the theme of the next World Youth Day. It is a theme that enables young people from every continent to follow in spirit the path taken by the Magi whose relics, according to a pious tradition, are venerated in this very city, and to meet, as they did, the Messiah of all nations.

It is true to say that the light of Christ had already opened the minds and the hearts of the Magi. "They went their way" (Mt 2:9), says the Evangelist, setting out boldly along unknown paths on a long, and by no means easy, journey. They did not hesitate to leave everything behind in order to follow the star that they had seen in the East (cf Mt 2:2). Imitating the Magi, you young people are also making preparations to set out on a "journey" from every region of the world to go to Cologne. It is important for you not only to concern yourselves with the practical arrangements for World Youth Day, but first of all you must carefully prepare yourselves spiritually, in an atmosphere of faith and listening to the Word of God.

Just as the Holy Father pointed out in his message to the youth that it was important that they prepared themselves not only practically but first of all spiritually, let us also not become so concerned with the practical preparations for Christmas that we forget that we must first of all "carefully prepare [ourselves] spiritually, in an atmosphere of faith and listening to the Word of God."

May God bless you and draw you ever deeper into the light of Christ during this Advent season.