By Anthony Selvanathan
Special to the Herald
Have you ever noticed how much time you spend waiting during the day? Whether it’s being stuck in traffic, standing in line at the store, waiting for your computer to turn on or waiting for the latest Netflix show to load, it’s easy to feel impatient.
I imagine that some of us would think to ourselves from time to time: “Could this person ahead of me in line hurry up already?” Or perhaps: “This traffic light is the longest light in the whole city!”
Our fast-paced world often makes us expect instant gratification, which is why I believe holy Mother Church gives us the season of Advent — as a time to practice waiting with joy, hope, patience and anticipation.
How can we make the most of this season of Advent and prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christmas? I suggest three concepts to help us: wake up, prepare and celebrate.
Advent as a time to wake up
Advent provides us with an opportunity to wake ourselves up — to face the challenges of our time head on and stand together with our brothers and sisters in Christ in solidarity.
In order to live out the Advent season in a way that fully embodies a hope that is joyful and looks forward to the two-fold coming of Christ, we need to be aware of and embrace the truth of the times we live in.
While we may not have the capacity to fix the problems and issues of our time by ourselves, we can call to the Lord in prayer and work in whatever little ways we can, to be the arms and feet of Jesus himself in our daily actions.
Advent also calls us to mindfulness — living in the present, not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. In this quiet season, we can attune ourselves to God’s presence and listen for his calling, asking what he wants us to do in the here and now.
Advent as a time to prepare
Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. It’s an opportunity to start fresh and let go of burdens — whether they’re unresolved relationships or negative feelings like bitterness, insecurity, hatred, envy or jealousy.
As the season that welcomes the beginning of the liturgical year, Advent is an ideal time for spiritual renewal. The sacrament of reconciliation offers a chance to heal and break free from what holds us back, so that God’s love can fill our hearts and help us prepare for Christ’s birth.
When we clear away these obstacles, we’re better able to receive Christ in our lives.
Advent as a time to celebrate
One of the beautiful aspects of Advent is that it’s a time of celebration. We celebrate the fact that God chose to enter the world not as a mighty king, but as a vulnerable infant, born in a manger.
Advent reminds us of the mystery of the Paschal mystery — Christ’s birth, death and resurrection — and it calls us to celebrate this with hope. As we wait for Christmas, we also anticipate Christ’s second coming. The season encourages us to celebrate this fact with joy and trust in God’s eternal promise.
During this Advent season, I pray that we may live out the Gospel message by waking up to the world around us, preparing our hearts for Christ, and celebrating the hope of his coming.
