Waiting a hug part of the Advent season even though it’s also probably the most ignored among Catholics…at least in the United States. We obviously live in a culture that does not handle waiting very well. Too many polls and surveys can show how instant gratification runs our personality. Just look at the Advent season, that everyone calls Christmas/Holiday season, and when it begins. Right after Halloween you can hear Christmas music on the radio and in the office. Civic communities and shopping stores begin putting up decorations well before Turkeys go on sale. This year, Advent didn’t begin until a whole week after Thanksgiving and I still got Christmas cards days after the November holiday. Not to mention all the Christmas parties that begin early in December.
We completely skip the Advent season with the exception of Sunday Mass and maybe lighting a wreath in our homes (with the Christmas Tree in the background). Now, don’t get me wrong. My Christmas Tree always goes up the day after Thanksgiving; I host and attend Christmas parties before December 25; I even wish people a Merry Christmas when I’m out shopping or eating in December. I’m not knocking what has become new cultural traditions around Christmas…I’m upset that we don’t celebrate Advent in the midst of these things.
Waiting is a very active thing to do. When we wait in the doctors office, for example, we are anxious about what’s coming next (results, a test, checkup, etc) and we focus on the waiting of our hearts. Sure, we may be sitting in a chair; but, we are hardly resting as we wait. You can also think of waiting for a package from Amazon. Most people don’t just quietly wait…you’re constantly checking the status on your phone, tracking the package, making sure you get it in the promised time line. Waiting is far from boring.
Advent is an important season in the Church that teaches us how to wait. What are we waiting for? Yes, the birth of of Jesus; but, more importantly we are waiting for Jesus’ second coming. We’re waiting and in our waiting we are preparing to meet Christ Jesus when He comes again in glory and majesty. One does not prepare for such a day by sitting idle and being bored. We have to keep tracking our life of grace (like we track our packages), we have to watch our souls for times we’ve fallen into sinful behavior and seek forgiveness. We have to be busy with proclaiming the Good News that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!
This is how we wait. Advent helps us in practicing how to wait. Enjoy our cultural Christmas celebrations; but, practice the wisdom and spirituality of Advent. Most importantly, rejoice in the ACTUAL Christmas season that starts Christmas Day and ends on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January.
May you have a happy and blessed Advent Season.