It’s Advent again! ‘Tis the season that too often is too little appreciated, misunderstood and commonly ignored. Advent is about learning to wait. It is about not having to know exactly what is coming tomorrow. Advent teaches us the difference between expectation, anticipation and waiting; suspense, eagerness and “twiddling your thumbs to pass the time”.
I invite you to take a stroll down memory lane. Feel again the anticipation and impatience you felt for the night Santa Claus would come. That’s the feeling we still need to be filled with as we await the coming of Christmas – the commemoration of the night Jesus opened His eyes as a human being. His first smile lit up his eyes as he beheld the tender love of his earthly mother and his foster father Joseph. That was the night when he first heard, with human ears, the sweet sound of angels’ voices. He experienced the comfort of his first hug. Snuggled in his mother’s arms, he felt the warmth of the breath of curious animals who gathered ‘round the Holy Family.
In your reverie, live again the moment you discovered the reality of the Santa myth. You’d probably had plenty of hints for a long time from older siblings or classmates. In fact, you might have suspected who the REAL family Santa was. But you were slow to relinquish the fantasy of the jolly fellow enjoying the cookies you’d left for him. Feel again the childish delight you knew as Santa emptied his sack of toys to find the gift with your name on it.
This Advent season, in place of eager children looking forward to Santa bringing us gifts, may we dream up creative ways to be “Santa” to others.
“May the God of Israel increase our longing for Jesus our Savior and give each and all of us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of Jesus’ coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of Truth.”
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
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