The new liturgical year has come with the first week of Advent. It is a time for new
beginnings in our Christian life. In these days, many have not appreciated formal religion and
instead have chosen an individual spirituality. Then there are others who have turned to
sports and the arts as their priority.
Advent provides an opportunity to let go of what is merely routine and not really working and
look for something that rings true and will withstand the test of time in this everchanging
world we live in. The difficulty is that this “new possibility” might not be something that can
be “manufactured.” It might require a gift that is given to us and asking for a response from
us. Most of the time it asks for a period of waiting. Some very early Christians went to the
desert to wait for this anticipated gift and had faith that it would come.
Maybe our “desert” today requires a willingness to accept the fact that “all that glitters is not
gold.” In the sadness of not experiencing a perfect Christmas, it could open us to seek the
coming of the Lord who might bring with him unexpected peace and joy.
- What is your experience of the days before Christmas?
- Have you ever felt sadness at Christmas time?
- If so, has this sadness opened you to experience the coming of the Lord in a new way?
O God, help me make room for your coming to me in unexpected ways.