As we begin the season of Advent, we are invited into a time of hopeful waiting for the coming of Christ. This season holds particular significance for queer Catholics. In reflecting on the scriptures for the first Sunday of Advent, Darby DeJarnette finds reminders of God's faithfulness, justice, and the deep love God that shows through the Incarnation. For those of us often on the margins, this season offers both a call to live with hope in the midst of struggle and a powerful affirmation that Christ’s love can reach us where we are, inviting us into God’s embrace.

December 1, 2024: First Sunday of Advent
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

A Light in the Darkness

A reflection by Darby DeJarnette

As we enter the season of Advent, the winter darkness invites us into a time of waiting, of hopeful anticipation for the coming of Christ. For queer Catholics, the Advent season carries a particular richness, as we reflect on the love that Christ has for us, manifested through the Incarnation. The readings for this first Sunday of Advent remind us of God’s faithfulness, abiding love, and the call to live with hope, even amidst difficulty. In this season, as we prepare for the coming of new things, we are also invited to experience the profound ways in which God's love reaches into our lives, especially for those of us who often experience marginalization or exclusion.

In the reading from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus speaks of signs in the heavens, distress among nations, and the coming of Christ. He warns his disciples to be watchful and ready, urging them to remain steadfast in prayer, so that they might stand before God with confidence. In spite of its heaviness, this passage is one of hope—a reminder that Christ will return to us in our individual lives to set things right. God will not forget us, even when the world around us seems to be in turmoil. Christ is forever a light in the darkness, eternally drawn to us.

The struggles for justice and equity that many of us face can feel overwhelming in times like these, but Advent is a time when we are called to remember that the end of all things is not despair but the triumphant love of Christ—who comes to bring healing and wholeness to all of Creation. The message of Advent is not one of resignation but of eager anticipation of the fullness of God’s promise, where all are invited to partake in the peace and love that we are given as a gift from God.

The call to watchfulness and prayer invites us to reflect on our own relationship with God. It reminds us that even in times of hardship, we are not alone. Christ has come into the world, born of a pure love which brings hope to those who are marginalized, peace to those who suffer, and joy to all who feel lost or abandoned. This season is a chance to remember that, despite the challenges we face, we are deeply loved by God, who became flesh to dwell among us.

We enter Advent anticipating the return of the hope, justice, and love that we experience through the Incarnation of Christ. This season can be both a time of joy and a time of reflection on the ways Christ’s love reaches out to us in our particular experiences. The incarnation of Christ—God becoming human—reminds us that God’s love is not abstract or distant but is intimately present in our lives, regardless of how others in the Church, the world, or even in our families regard us. Christ comes to us in the vulnerability of a child, born in humble circumstances, to show us that God’s love is for all people, including those who are often marginalized or excluded.

Let us remember that Christ’s coming is a joyful promise of acceptance for everyone, and that his Incarnation is a testament to the infinite value God places on each of us. God loves us enough to be with us in the darkness of winter and in the coming light of a new day. May we live with hope and anticipation of God’s drawing near to us, growing in love and compassion for each other as we wait together for the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Darby DeJarnette is the Manager of Operations and Missions Services at DignityUSA. She has been involved in marketing and public relations writing for most of her professional career and has had several poems published in small press anthologies. Darby was also a staff writer at a performing arts publication for many years. She has had over one hundred articles published under her byline to date.