In the selection we reflect on this week from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, we are told “… the time has come” (vs 11). St. Paul goes on to say that our salvation is near at
hand.
In Advent, we are given time to prepare our hearts for our salvation, which is near at hand – Jesus, who becomes incarnate in the nativity.
In stark contrast to the world in which we live, the Church, in Advent, invites us to use this time to wait. We should not wait in frustration, irritation, anxiety or fear but in expectation and hope. Our waiting in Advent is not passive waiting. It is an active waiting.
Waiting is a word we do not like. Many times, “waiting” seems to carry a negative connotation. We think of waiting as a waste of time. However, in a world where things happen at break-neck speeds, we are getting less and less used to the idea of waiting – perhaps we even get frustrated and irritated when we get told to wait for
something!
We are invited to use this Advent time well by waiting with the many characters in the Scriptures who wait for the birth of Jesus: Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zachariah and John. We are invited to wait with God’s Word given to us in the
Scriptures. Our time of waiting should be characterised by hopeful expectation.
Take a few moments today to consider how you might get the most out of this Advent time given as a gift. What is your attitude to waiting? How will you practice
“waiting” this Advent? How might the Scriptures be your companion and help you use this time of Advent well as we wait together for the Lord?
