For the past two weeks, John the Baptist has been the central figure in our Advent Liturgy, calling us to repent and change our lives so that we can receive the Lord. But today it is Mary who takes center stage, teaching us how to wait in silence.
Last week I noted that the world views “waiting” as a waste of time, a sign of inefficiency. For the world, there is no purpose in waiting. Christian “waiting,” however, is different from the waiting of the world. It is filled with joy, hope, and anticipation of what God is about to do. And so, like Mary, Christians wait patiently; they wait in silence. Click the title to read more.
This third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday,” a name that comes from the Latin Introit of today’s mass, Gaudete in Domino simper: “Rejoice in the Lord, always.” This Latin text comes from Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians in which the Apostle urges his converts to rejoice always in the Lord, even when they are threatened with persecution. Click the title to read more.
During the second week of Advent, the Liturgy focuses our attention on John the Baptist, that great prophet who suddenly appears in the desert to announce the coming of the Messiah. Like us, John is waiting. He is waiting for something new that will change and transform the face of the earth. He is waiting for the final and definitive coming of salvation. He is waiting for the long-expected Messiah. Click the title to read more.
What are you waiting for? What are you hoping for? Are you waiting for the holidays to come and pass? Are you hoping for a particular gift, the newest gadget, the next best thing? Waiting and hoping are an essential part of life. When we stop waiting and hoping, we lose our purpose and direction in life; we stop living. What we wait and hope for tells us a lot about ourselves. Indeed, if you tell me what you are waiting for, I will tell you who you are. Click the title to read more.