Happy New Year, everybody! No, the deacon isn’t delusional. I didn’t bump my head this morning and I haven’t lost my marbles. Today is the First Sunday of Advent. It is the beginning of the Church’s Liturgical Calendar and it runs until Saturday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time next year. Advent comes from the latin word advenire, which means “to come to.” While the rest of the world prepares for Christmas, the birthday of Jesus Christ, by decorating, sending cards and buying presents, the Church prepares for the celebration of Christ’s birth but it is also preparing for His return at the end of time. Our first and second readings point to that time in a way that is slightly different from the report in the Gospel. They have a more optimistic tone in looking forward to the coming of Christ. St. Paul even gives us some suggestions on how we should prepare ourselves. On the other hand, Jesus’ description is more somber and foreboding. There is an air of uncertainty. People disapp