The life lived along the Way of Jesus, that is, the Christian life, is marked by both anticipation and satiation. We live most of our lives in the paradox of both seeing God’s loving presence and saving work in our lives while at the same time longing for God’s presence and action to be more clearly demonstrated. We are at once both completely satisfied yet we wonder why it is God does not do more. We find ourselves in a quandary. You are not alone in the wondering!
In the celebration of Advent we are reminded that none of us is alone in the dual experiences of longing and satisfaction. In this season (and the Christmas season that follows) we both anticipate God’s presence in our yearning for the Messiah and we celebrate his coming. In these celebrations we are reminded that this paradox is not abnormal -- it is in part a reflection of God’s activity in all of human history. It is as if our lives reflect in a small way the very pattern of salvation history – we live lives that assume an Advent-then-Christmas shape to them, and in recalling these seasons we understand God’s work before, among, and beyond us and our time.
In his book, In Joyful Hope: Meditations for Advent, the late Henri Nouwen – priest, scholar, author, activist, and caregiver – writes:
Waiting is essential to the spiritual life. But waiting as a disciple of Jesus is not an empty waiting. It is waiting with a promise in our hearts that makes already present what we are waiting for. We wait during Advent for the birth of Jesus. We wait after Easter for the coming of the Spirit, and after the Ascension of Jesus we wait for his coming again in glory. We are always waiting in the conviction that we have already seen God’s footsteps.
Waiting for God is an active, alert -- yes, joyful -- waiting. As we wait we remember him for whom we are waiting, and as we remember him, we create a community ready to welcome him when he comes.
It enlivens my soul to know that we join together now in creating a family of faith that is becoming ever ready to welcome the One who came once and who is coming again. May we have our wits about us to notice him and to bid him come!
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