Today the Church observes “Christ, the King of the Universe” Sunday. It marks the last week of the church year and next Sunday will be the beginning of the holy season of Advent. It serves as not only an end but a beginning of the new year. Christ, as King of the universe, identifies who and what we are moving toward, the end of the age and the sovereign, eternal lordship of Christ Jesus over all of creation. This provides us with orientation regarding the season of Advent in which we focus upon repentance, particularly as it regards the end of the age and the return of Christ Jesus, also known as the “Second Coming.” Many folks with good intentions, want to leap over Advent to Christmas, prematurely assuming that is what Advent is all about. Advent is definitely leading us to Christmas but not by the road of consecutive celebrations. Rather, it prepares us by addressing our need to be prepared for judgement and the resulting need for a Savior. Advent, like Lent, is a penitential season. We are to examine ourselves. Every time we sin, we in some manner turn from the Lord. To “repent,” in its simplest form, means to “turn around,” turning from sin to the Lord. The purpose of the priest giving us a penance after confession is to solidify our repentance with a concrete action that takes us toward the Lord, not just to say I’m sorry but to also show that I’m sorry. This Advent as in the past we will celebrate Mass “Ad Orientem,” which means I, as the priest, will face the same direction as the congregation. Ad Orientem means “facing East” symbolically, East being symbolically understood as the direction from which the Lord will return. “Facing” symbolizes being ready. We know He is coming, and we keep our attention focused in His direction. This symbolic action reminds us to examine the rest of our life and be prepare like the “faithful servants” of the parables, ready to “open the door” for the master. The Lord be with you. Fr. Sid