The season of Advent begins with a promise…a promise of something to come – the birth of Christ. It is a time of waiting, of preparing not just in material ways but of looking inside ourselves – are our hearts, our minds, our lives ready to receive the fulfilment of the promise?
In these weeks we follow the journey of Mary and Joseph to the fulfilment of God’s promise – we light candles – this week just one candle is lighting, a gentle glow in the midst of the darkness as the world awaits what is to come. We are invited to wait with hope in our hearts…not to rush ahead. In these days the stable is where the animals take rest and eat from the manger – these places will become essential elements of the fulfilment of God’s promise – but not yet! In Advent life goes on as it looks forward to the season of Christmas – it is an invitation to stand with the prophets as they wait for the promise of light in the darkness…for the promise of the Saviour who will come…
These days leading to Christmas are days of being the now of waiting…to remain in the silence…to pause and learn how to wait with hope in the space between promise and fulfilment.
Karen OSU