Advent Rambles:

There is a particular sense of longing spread out throughout the earth at this time of Advent for us as Christians, but also in the secular world globally in having gone through these past two years of restrictions and talk of virus and death.

We have been readied in many ways to take our gaze that can often be so incessantly on finite things and contemplate deeper realities that in good health, fortune and abundance might seem far from us, or from a need of our focus. 

We learn, if we are attentive, not how to become divisive and angry or to live dangerously, but to live seriously, alive with intention and purpose and to evaluate how we have long forgotten how to do this, how we have misplaced value on superficial things, even placing wayward onus on others to be as our savior, yet live our lives divorced from God.

This time is a grace for us, a messy grace. If we are to spend Advent well, in my opinion, it's not going to be by screaming and shouting as into a void or by looking obsessively at what is evil, by blaming "misinformation", or "wrong information", because the real travesty of all of this is far too much information and not enough effort made toward healthy spiritual formation and devotion. We are starving for more than the remedy of a vaccine, we are empty of the Love that is here to save us, the Love that is coming to us. 

There is one thing we need to do, like Mary, we need to choose the better part and sit with the Lord, in stillness at the Master's feet, and to be there present like the Blessed Mother Mary as we draw nearer to her, especially in this Advent season. From her we learn how to be open and receptive surrendered to God. In the midst of all of this obscurity and waiting He will give light to us, He will give us His Light to be as His children in the middle of this world that is so very in need. 

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy ." Psalm 126:3