Waiting is hard

The following was written for the OLBH Bulletin Cover for December 10, 2017:

I grew up in a large family. While we didn’t have any particular tradition about when the Christmas tree was put up, it usually was when one or more of us kids were ready to head into the attic and start hauling down the decorations two flights of stairs. Once the tree was up and decorated, it wasn’t long before presents started showing up under the tree. And with twelve kids in the family, there were a lot of wrapped gifts under the tree long before Christmas morning, making the wait feel, as we hear in the second reading, “one day is like a thousand years.” One gift we didn’t have to wonder about what was in it, but was so hard to wait to open, was the big box from Grandma. Every year she made all kinds of candies and cookies and other treats, just waiting for us to dive into, but not until Christmas Day.

Waiting is a hard thing for most of us. Whether it is waiting in line at the store or in traffic, waiting in the doctor office, or waiting for the birth of a baby. Waiting is just not something we want to deal with, especially in our society. We expect instant responses to our text messages, our food to be fast, pushing the speed limits, and fast internet. Essentially, we want everything, right now.

But one thing most of us want to wait a long, long time for, is meeting Jesus at the end of our life here on earth. So, the Church, with her Holy Wisdom, has the season of Advent every year before Christmas. A season of waiting, and of preparation. It is an annual reminder to us, that we are waiting to meet Jesus face-to-face. And in the waiting, we are to prepare ourselves to meet our Lord.

So how are you preparing to meet Jesus during this season of waiting? Are you taking time to listen for the “voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths’?” Are you spending more time listening to the voice in God by reading scripture and daily prayer? Have you received the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the last month? After all, we read in the gospel, “John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” What about spending some time with Jesus by coming to Eucharistic Adoration these last two Wednesdays before Christmas?

Over these last days of Advent, take time to slow down a bit, to spend some time with Jesus. And just enjoy this period of waiting.

Have a blessed remaining days of Advent, a joyous Christmas season, and a happy New Year.

Deacon Greg
Servium