It seems like we blinked and already we’re in Advent, the season of waiting, waiting for God. We don’t like to wait. Red lights, long lines at the checkout counter, and lengthy downloads are frustrating.
The Israelites waited centuries for salvation from Egypt. They waited centuries for salvation by the Messiah. Now we await the Messiah’s second coming at the end of time. Bombarded with bad news from around the globe, more than ever we need the coming of Jesus and his kingdom of peace and justice in this “weary world. We might feel like praying with the psalmist, “How long, O God?” (Ps. 13) How long before we enjoy your kingdom of peace and justice? But remember that Scripture says that a thousand years are as a single day to the eternal God. (Ps. 90)
The Jesuit Pierre Teilhard de Chardin encouraged us to “trust in the slow work of God.” So during Advent we are “eagerly waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed” (1 Cor. 1:7). But apparently we need to “wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25).
Meaning in the Waiting for God
Poet R.J. Thomas observed, “The meaning is in the waiting.” How do we find meaning in our Advent waiting? We can wait like Mary did. As any expectant mother, she went about preparing for her newborn son, sewing baby blankets and clothes, and thinking about how she would act as a mother. We can prepare gifts for others and prepare our houses for hosting Christmas gatherings, and most of all we can prepare our hearts for welcoming our Savior.
Mary’s heart must have been filled with awe and gratitude for the great mystery she shared in. Her days must have been drenched in prayer. During Advent we can spend extra time in prayer pondering the wonder of salvation.
While pregnant, Mary hurried to help her older cousin Elizabeth in her pregnancy, about a 90-mile journey. We can assist those in need more than usual.
During this Advent, like Mary we may be asked to do surprising things. We might become involved in stressful situations, cope with unexpected problems, come down with the flu or other disease, face an uncertain future, and be taken out of our comfort zone. Whatever these weeks hold, we can look to Mary to understand and to be a model and support.
So what are we waiting for? As we “await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ,” let’s make our Advent a season not only of anticipation, but of preparation, prayer, and presents for the poor. Then let us continue these practices after Advent, for as Thomas Merton pointed out, “Life is a perpetual Advent”!
As we wait for God, God waits for us too.
Christ Coming Now
Let’s think about Christ’s coming in the present, in fact every day of our lives. Like a conscientious watchman, may we be on the alert to see him come to us in unexpected ways each day. He might come in the form of a stranger or as a phone call, an e-mail, a letter, a smile, or an offer to help. A good Advent practice for the evening is scanning the day for an occurrence that would be Christ acting in our life, giving us little love-gifts. Another practice is exercising patience standing in line at the post office, being caught in stalled traffic, and similar situations.
Gifts from God
Jesus also surprises us with gifts today and every day. For example, we are reunited with an old friend in an unlikely place. We’re searching for a Christmas gift for a person and it appears in an ad…and for sale! We want to know where a Scripture quotation is, and the Bible falls open to the exact page where it is located. For those who have eyes to see, events like these are God’s finger acting in our lives.
Sometimes Jesus comes to us when we least expect it. We might be driving, reading a book, listening to music, vacuuming, or quietly sitting and suddenly we are overtaken by a sense of God’s presence and love for us.
The Eucharist
Certainly the most impressive way that Jesus comes to us in this “in between time” is in the Eucharist. At Christmas we celebrate that God took on flesh and became a human being. That is incredible enough. But every day at Mass he stoops to take on the forms of inanimate things: bread and wine. This truly is a stunning mystery. Yes, God so loved the world that he sent his only Son. God also so loved the world that he becomes food and drink and shares his very life with us.
Sit with the Lord. Spend quiet, uninterrupted time listening for his voice. Open your heart and be ready to receive all the blessings he has ready for you. Take this step towards becoming more purposeful in your daily life. A holy life is not found only in busyness. A busy life is not the same as a meaningful life. A holy, purposeful life is found in God.
• What does Advent mean to you?
• How can you make your Advent less busy and more meaningful?
• How has Jesus come to you lately?
This is a haunting Advent song I used to teach my high school freshmen: “Long Is Our Winter”
2 Responses
I have experienced many kindnesses from strangers offering to help me. A gentleman helped me get into my car because of ice and snow. I really appreciated his kindness. I am not as fragile as I look; but I really appreciate the offers.
I always look forward to participating in the giving tree at church.
My daughter always makes sure I have someone to share Christmas Mass with, I so appreciate that.
There are more nice people in the world than mean ones, don’t you think? That includes you, me, and our relatives!