Sixteen winters ago, my first at St. Francis – St. Maximilian, our Director of Religious Education, Germaine, came to me in the sacristy with a deep bluish-purple vestment. She offered this vestment as a gift to me and the parish, but only if I wore it just for Advent and saved all the other “purple” vestments for Lent. She explained that this vestment was a particular shade called Indigo. You see, the color for Advent is different. Indigo is the color of night–but not the dead of night, which can be pitch black. No, it is the color of that moment just before the dawn, where the coming light begins to break through the black of night, giving assurance that the dawn is coming.
In Advent, we encounter and embrace this moment. The Indigo does not deny the darkness we experience in our struggles, betrayals, sufferings, sinfulness, or the uncertainties and violence in the world–circumstances that sometimes seem hopeless. Instead, it assures us that the dawn of God’s love will break into the darkness and overcome it. The dawn of God’s love is Jesus Himself. Advent calls us to live in the Hope of this assurance, both during its four weeks and throughout the year.
The stories of Mary and Elizabeth that we hear during Advent proclaim that no matter how impossible the circumstances may seem, nothing is impossible for God. They both respond in faith to what God promises. Elizabeth is elderly, and Mary is a virgin, yet they both believe, conceive, and have sons. Following their example of faith is the key to living the Hope of Indigo.
Jesus is coming and is already here. He is here in our hearts, the people around us, the Word, and, especially, the Eucharist. Moreover, He is coming again to gather us all to Himself for all eternity. Because Jesus is with us and coming again in glory, we can always live in the Hope of Indigo no matter what we face.
Welcome to the season of Indigo. Welcome to Advent!