November 27, 2024
Happy Thanksgiving and a blessed Advent. This weekend we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent and for my community, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, we begin the celebration of our 150th Anniversary.
Driving to work today as I patiently waited for the light to turn green, I thought ‘we could spend a lot of time waiting in our lives.’ So, waiting started to look like a great topic to reflect on. We wait in line at a store, for results from the doctor, to hear back from a job interview, to see test result from school, and to reflect and gather information to make better decisions. Our waiting is what you would call a patient waiting. It is a waiting which assumes a certain or known outcome.
Then, I had a flash back to when I was a project manager for Haiti. While traveling with a medical group, I often witnessed people ‘waiting’ all day in the hot sun to see a doctor. Not all the folks waiting had a chance to be seen. Time ran out. The people waited for the hurricane to stop so they could pick up the pieces. They waited for the ability to be educated. Their waiting was different, it was an enduring waiting, a resilient waiting. That kind of waiting is a waiting rooted in survival, hope and deep resilience.
Advent is a time of waiting. The people of the Old Testament waited longingly for the Messiah. They were a resilient people who lived in hope. Today we know the outcome of the prophecies and wait for the commemoration of the first Christmas. Emmanuel with us. How do I plan to spend this time waiting in a way that will help me develop a deeper relationship with Jesus, the Messiah. Will I be able to pull myself away and take the time to pray for a few extra minutes? Or will my wait be ‘I can’t wait till this is all over?’
Advent season can be a stressful time as we prepare for Christmas, but it can also be a beautiful time. Prayer, family time, reflection, helping others through the season are all ways that can make our ‘waiting ‘season more meaningful. May your Advent be filled with all things good and beautiful. Happy WAITING!
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
