Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph

First Sunday
of
Advent

The First Sunday of Advent calls us to wait with longing — but not in despair. The readings remind us that even in seasons of darkness, we are never abandoned. Isaiah’s lament speaks to a people who feel forsaken, yet he cries out to God as Father and Redeemer. It is a prayer from the shadows, full of sorrow but also faith. In the Gospel, Jesus urges us to “watch,” to stay awake — not in fear, but in hope, trusting that the Lord will return.

This is the heart of Advent: hope in the waiting, light in the darkness. Paul reminds the Corinthians—and us—that we lack no spiritual gift as we await Christ’s coming. God’s faithfulness, not our strength, sustains us .  As we begin this season, we may carry grief, uncertainty, or silence. But Advent proclaims that the night is not forever. Even when we feel God’s absence, we are invited to trust in His promise to come again.

Hope is not naive optimism; it is rooted in the knowledge that God is at work, even when we cannot see it. Advent teaches us to wait actively, with open hearts and watchful eyes, for the dawn that will surely come.

Sally Deitch, MSN, MHA, RN, FACHE, Executive Vice President Nursing and Operations Infrastructure, Ascension Health