God's Style Waiting in Joy, Week Three of Advent

          Happy third Sunday in Advent! The present theme in life (mine and in others), is a lack of patience, especially around this time of finals, and as Christmas break approaches. While some are struggling with the “what is next stage”, or “I want it now, when is it my turn / my time, stage”, Advent teaches us to rejoice and be happy! These past couple of months I have been reflecting on where my own joy has gone. If I am to be honest with you and myself, I think it has gotten lost in the “I want it now stage”. To be fair I am still a human, and yes I still have some life lessons to learn. 

          However, Advent teaches us to be patient, to be patient with others and ourselves. God has amazing plans for us! His plans are so amazing that He was willing to send down His only Begotten Son as a human being, in the most humble of forms, as a baby to be born in a tiny manger in a tiny town. God also has amazing style: in Matthew 2:2 it is written, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” God makes the brightest star shine for the birth of Jesus. This star is so bright that it is seen for miles away and leads the Magi to Him.

 

The same God that has amazing style has amazing plans for us and when we least expect it will show us. This brings us back to the start .We must be patient and wait in joy for His plans. We must not be fooled by the cheep imitations that seem to be great, but in reality they are not the same, awesome, or authentic plans that God has.  In our anxiousness we must not lose hope, but we must stay strong and trust that “greater things are yet to come and greater things are still being done.” 

I leave you with the second reading from today’s Mass, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 -24: “Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.” When we are allow Christ to take our lack of patience and anxieties in prayer then we become free. In this freedom this is where our peace and our joy rests, this is where our hope comes from.  My prayer for you this Advent is for peace and joy to overflow in your heart. Let us not get caught up in the cheap imitations, but let us be patient in the real presence and presents of Jesus. As we light the pink candle let us wait in joy.