I have been talking a great deal lately about how the season of Advent is a time that we are to prepare for the coming of Christ into the world. Certainly it is a time when we are intentional in our reflections on the first coming of Christ in the form of the Babe of Bethlehem. But it is also the time when we consider the second coming of Christ at the end of the ages. If you are like me, thinking about the second coming of Christ compels me to look deeply into my own heart and life and to evaluate whether I truly am ready. Just as there seems so much to be done in preparation for the Christmas festivities, so too there seems to be so much work to be done in the recesses of my soul!
To be quite honest, it can all become a bit daunting! I become overwhelmed when I compare that which God has done for me in the gift of his only-begotten with my own meager, albeit honest response to his gift. Before we realize it, Advent, instead of being a patient time of reflection and preparation, becomes a hectic time of hustling and bustling and trying to become good enough for the Kingdom of God.
Could it be, however, that faithful preparation comes not in the form of hustle and bustle but rather in quiet and still receiving? That’s the way it worked for the Virgin Mary, after all. When the angel comes to her and tells her of God’s plan for her life, she doesn’t kick into high gear. Rather she responds with simple words of reception: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” As young and simple as Mary was, she recognized a truth about our relationship with God that so many of us who are older and more intellectually sophisticated seem to miss. This great foundational truth is that our relationship with God is much more about receiving and being than it is about giving and doing. And as such, Advent is a special time in which we are invited first and foremost to receive.
Richard Rohr has commented that “God does not love you because you are good; God loves you because God is good. God does not love you because you are good; you are good because God loves you.” Now THAT is an Advent message that brings some peace and sanity into our lives! So, prepare…yes. But prepare by first opening your heart to receive the goodness and love of God.
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I believe we are called to remember that throughout our faith history God has continued to worked unexpectantly through ordinary people. Whether it be Moses, Ruth, David, the propehts or Mary. In a world where we hesitate to act because we question our ability, who we are, or risk failure, God seeks the ones that simply say, “Here I am”. That is all God’s needs. The willing soul. God will give us what it takes and he will stand by us all the time.
The promise remains right in front of us, always. We know through scripture where all this is going to end up. Remembering that we have a loving God and his promise to us, we simply need to keep carrying on and moving forward. That is very good news.
Thanks be to God!
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