Advent Is a Time of Waiting But How Do We Wait?
Do we wait as with joyful expectation or has life's disappointments left us jaded and closed to any spiritual surprises?
Come to think of it, how many of us actually expect to receive any spiritual joy on Christmas morning? When we are secretly cynical, we will not receive a thing, not even a tiny flicker of Light because we have locked the door to our hearts. Then, our cynicism will be confirmed once again; we will cement our cynicism in place for another year.
As we wait, secretly longing for the dark, empty places within us to be flooded with His light, we should look to our children to teach us how to wait for the Christ Child to be born anew in our hearts. They trust and believe the words of both their earthly and heavenly Fathers. Think of a young child, eyes twinkling, barely able to sit still and contain his excitement because he knows that his dad will never give him a stone instead of a loaf of bread. No wonder Jesus tells us,
“I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven…” Matthew 18:4
I Can Be a Counterpoint of Light
I can choose to welcome light into my inner darkness. I turn my eyes to the child Jesus in silent expectation, waiting to be filled with hope because it is Advent, the brink of Christmas, a celebration of light, joy and peace on earth. If we are open and humble, the flames of the Advent candles will shine as beacons of hope in the darkness, symbols of the Light of the world who will come on Christmas morning.
Yes, Advent is a time for waiting with Mary in the darkness for the birth of the Christ Child. It is a time to silently listen in expectation. It is a time to sweep away the clutter in our hearts and souls by simplifying our lives to make room for a re-birth in our own hearts for this child called Jesus.
Copyright 2015 Melanie Jean Juneau
About the Author
Melanie Jean Juneau
Melanie Jean Juneau is a mother of nine children who blogs at joy of nine9. Her writing is humorous and heart-warming; thoughtful and thought-provoking. Part of her call and her witness is to write the truth about children, family, marriage and the sacredness of life. Melanie is the administrator of ACWB, the Editor in Chief at CatholicLane, CatholicStand, Catholic365 , CAPC & author of Echoes of the Divine.
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