Preparing for the Messiah Who Comes to Meet Us

As we enter this first week of Advent, the Church leads us by hand back to the voice of Isaiah, the great prophet of Messianic hope. Isaiah spoke at a time of crisis: kingdoms were collapsing, enemies were closing in, and fear filled the land. Yet it was precisely in this climate of uncertainty that God planted the seed of hope. Isaiah prophesies that “on that day, the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious.” In other words, when everything seems fragile, God begins something new. Isaiah’s prophecy gives us two images of the coming Messiah. First, He is a branch, a tender shoot, a small beginning that will grow into something strong and life-giving. Jesus will later use a similar image—the mustard seed that becomes a great tree. The Messiah does not come fully formed in power and glory; He comes as a tiny seed in Mary’s womb, as a child in Bethlehem, as grace quietly entering our lives. Advent invites us to notice God’s small beginnings. Secondly, Isaiah describes the Messiah as a canopy—a shelter, a shade from the heat, and protection from storm and rain. The coming of Christ is not meant to overwhelm us but to cover us with peace. He comes as the One who restores, heals, and shelters His people. In a world filled with anxieties, God promises a refuge. In the Gospel, the Roman centurion gives us the perfect model of how to welcome this Messiah. He is not a Jew. He is not part of the chosen people. Yet he displays a faith that astonishes Jesus. He says, “Lord, I am not worthy…”—words we echo at every Mass. The centurion teaches us that Advent is not about being perfect; it is about being open. Salvation comes not because we are worthy, but because God comes toward us with mercy. And Jesus responds with one of the most shocking statements of His ministry: “Many will come from the east and the west…”—in other words, those considered “outsiders” will enter the Kingdom ahead of those who think they are already inside. Advent reminds us that God’s grace often blossoms in unexpected hearts and unexpected places. So, how do we prepare for this Messiah? First, by allowing God to plant His seed in us—small steps of prayer, silence, reconciliation, and humility. Second, by letting Christ be our refuge—bringing Him our fears, anxieties, and wounds. Third, by imitating the centurion’s humility—approaching Jesus not with entitlement but with trust. Advent is not a season where we save ourselves. It is a season where God comes to save us. He begins His work slowly, quietly, but powerfully—like a branch that becomes a tree, like a shelter that protects us, like grace that transforms the humble. May the Lord grant us a heart ready to be planted with new life, purified of old habits, and open to His surprising mercy for us as we walk toward Christmas with hope.