Waiting in Hope and Patience

The celebration of Christ the King last weekend closed the church's calendar for Year C. This weekend opens the new church year with Advent Season Year A, giving us a chance to refresh our faith. Advent, from the Latin "ad-venire" ("to come to" or "arrive"), is four weeks of prayer, reflection, and preparation for Christ's birth. It's a time to examine our lives, reflect on our need for God, and eagerly await His coming. As the Catechism says, "When the church celebrates Advent... she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah... renewing ardent desire for His second coming." (CCC524)

Advent reminds us waiting isn't wasted time, but a sacred transformation. The church calls us to slow down, mindful that Christ is present in Eucharist, Word, and our hearts. Viktor Frankl, in Man's Search for Meaning, recounts Auschwitz's horrors, where waiting was one of the worst sufferings - for war's end, release, or death. We wait for big things (graduation, healing) and everyday stuff (food, sunrise). But waiting keeps us in suspense.

A story was narrated from an ancient Eastern mysticism about a monk who asked his veteran Abbot in the vocation, “Abbot, what is the greatest lesson you have learnt from God’s wisdom all these years of your service in the Lord’s vineyard? I guess you learnt to be divine (being like God)?” “Not at all, I am still human and a mortal being. Every effort to be divine keeps eluding me!” He guessed more, “Did you become a saint in the process?” “No, as you can clearly see, I’m still struggling with human frailties and shortcomings.” “What then, O Abbot?” “God’s wisdom all these years of service in His vineyard, (the Abbot replied), has taught me how to stay awake and be prepared always to meet the Lord in His Second Coming, without being taken unawares!”

The important question here: What is he coming to do?

He's coming to redeem us from wickedness and sin. The timing's unknown (Matthew 24:36). Our hope tells us to be patient, for God keeps promises. St. Catherine of Siena said patience is the "queen of virtues," the heart of love.

So how do we prepare? We get prepared by setting aside daily moments of silence and Scripture meditation. Receive Reconciliation to prepare our hearts, through doing one act of charity weekly, reduce distractions, focusing on relationships over consumption. Pope Francis said, "Advent increases our hope, a hope which does not disappoint."

As we wait in hope and patience for His coming, reflect: When was your last Communion? Confession? Are you chasing transient happiness? Rise up - make hay while the sun shines. Let Advent transform waiting into watchfulness with expectation and love.