Brothers and Sisters,
Have you ever noticed that we tend not to enjoy waiting?
Recently, I found myself in a long line when I went to get my Arizona driver’s license.
The wait felt like it went on forever, and the sense of relief I felt when it was over was
extraordinary. We don’t like to wait. I think that’s especially true in our own time, a time
characterized by instant gratification.
Contemporary life might have its advantages, but it does little to teach us patience. That
tendency is especially noticeable if you walk into a store at this time of year. Without hesitation, the stores move from stocking things for each successive holiday, well in advance, with no pause between them. We’re taught to be impatient.
The observance of Advent, on the other hand, teaches us something powerful about patience. This season of the Church’s life is all about waiting. For one, we’re waiting to observe the birth of Christ at Christmas. For us, it’s not a race from one holiday to another. There’s something very special about Christmas, and the calendar gives us this extraordinary season of Advent to prepare our hearts to celebrate the gift of the Incarnation. It’s okay to pause. It’s okay to wait.
The other major theme of Advent is also about waiting. We’re not only waiting to celebrate the birth of Christ. We’re also waiting for his second coming. I don’t know about you, but, while waiting to celebrate Christmas can be difficult, I find it more difficult to wait for the Lord’s return. I’m eager for him to come now.
What do we do while we wait? We prepare our hearts. We look forward in faith and hope. We remember that the Lord rewards those who wait for him. We learn to wait, and we come to realize that it’s worth it to wait for Jesus. He’s worth it.
In Christ,
Fr. Caleb Evans