Advent: El Amanecer

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent as well as the Winter Solstice - the longest night of the year. In just a few days, we will celebrate Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world.

The Spanish word amanecer means 'to dawn' or 'to begin to show or appear' (it also means 'to wake up,' as in the common morning greeting of '¿Cómo amaneciste?' which literally asks 'How did you wake up?"). I remember that Christmas is a celebration of El Amanecer - 'the dawn' of the Light which is Jesus Christ. During Advent, we wait for Him who comes to bring light into the shadows and dark places of our world and our hearts.

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
- Isaiah 9:2

"...because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."
- Luke 1:78-79

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
- John 1:4-5

"Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"
- John 7:12