Finish this sentence: Change is . . .
Many people end that sentence by saying change is difficult or hard or “I don’t like change.” While there are several reasons we may struggle with change — it can disrupt familiar routines, create uncertainty and challenge deeply held beliefs — it also brings new opportunities, creativity, renewed sense of purpose and growth. Change is a constant that shapes every aspect of human experience and many times it is welcomed.
Change is essential because it leads to growth, encourages resilience and helps us adapt when new opportunities and challenges occur. Change brings fresh perspectives, pushes us out of our comfort zones and ultimately enriches our experiences by keeping life dynamic and meaningful. If everything remains the same, life could feel stagnant. Change helps us stay engaged, motivated and open to learning new things.
We are entering a new liturgical year and season. The season of Advent marks the beginning of a new Church year. We begin again with a fresh cycle of spiritual reflection and renewal, new opportunities to get to know Jesus Christ in a deeper way than last week, last year, 10 years ago.
This period of spiritual preparation is marked by waiting in anticipation of the coming of Christ, a season of preparation and hope. The call for change during Advent is often expressed in the phrase “prepare the way,” a reminder drawn from John the Baptist’s message to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Matthew 3:3). This call to preparation isn’t just about external readiness; it’s an invitation to internal transformation and spiritual renewal. During this time, change is not only anticipated but is embraced as a means of transforming one’s relationship with God, self and others.
This season offers a chance to identify habits, thoughts or behaviors that may hinder our spiritual growth and replace them with practices that bring greater peace, compassion, hope and faithfulness. This inner transformation encourages a re-centering on faith, helping us to welcome Christ not just in celebration but as a presence in daily life. This change requires humility and self-awareness, which can lead to a stronger sense of purpose and connection with others.
By acknowledging this need for change, we open ourselves to transformation that brings us closer to embodying Christ’s love in our world. Just as the coming of Christ represents hope and salvation, we too can embrace our own potential for renewal, to seek transformation so that we can more fully welcome and reflect Christ’s presence. In this way, Advent becomes a call to abandon old habits, embrace new attitudes and prepare for rebirth.
As we prepare for the birth of Christ, we reflect on what needs to change. Advent fosters a sense of expectation and change; woven into this expectation is a need for adaptation and transformation. Ultimately, Advent is about preparing for new beginnings.
As a diocese, we are looking at our current reality of declining attendance and engagement, financial stability, shifting cultural attitudes and preparing for change. This change could be seen not as a disruption but an opportunity for us to deepen our relationship with Christ and the impact in the lives of others, encouraging participation and fostering a sense of shared purpose. In doing so, change is not something to be feared but to be embraced as part of our spiritual journey.
The gift of Advent is time to prepare ourselves to embrace all things new, for it reminds us that we continually begin again. This invitation may reveal our own hidden potential and abilities we may not have known we had; we can learn more about ourselves, our strengths, weaknesses. In this process of growing in faith we can view future changes with greater confidence and flexibility, seeing all things new by honoring the past and inspiring the future.