Por Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB
The season of yearning is upon us. Again, it is Isaiah who prompts us to beg that God return and ease our struggling, “Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down,” or as the Psalmist says, “Make us turn to You; let us see Your face, and we shall be saved.” When You restore your presence to us by the coming of your Son, oh, “Meet us,” says Isaiah, “doing right, mindful of your ways.” Yes, mold us Lord, form us, clay of your hands in the image of your Son. Make us ready to greet the Lord, Jesus.
Isaiah’s and the Psalmist’s push into the new Advent Season sends us off not only toward Christmas, but also to the New Year of grace. Hopefully, we can do our part to maintain a life mindful of God, obedient to Him, and keeping ourselves more Christlike than we have ever managed to be.
The Spirit of God pursues us, for St. Paul’s message to his converts at Colossae and to us continues to urge a Christian way of life upon us. It is his perfect Advent wish. “I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus.” Then Paul goes on pleading for our spiritual growth in Christ, so that “testimony to Christ [being] confirmed among you [is] not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”— Christmas approaches and we renew our yearning and resolve to live Christlike lives desirous of His coming. May the Spirit of the Divine Child impel us!
In the Gospel Jesus Himself urges upon us watchful waiting. Again, the end of earthly life is combined with the world’s end. Typically, the Advent gospel speaks not so much of the coming of the Christ Child into this world as our coming into new life when we meet Him face to face. The passage is from Mark, and it allows us to know that Jesus was in the last days of his earthly life. The Lord was speaking privately with Peter and Andrew, James and John. Repeatedly he told them, and He also tells us, to be vigilant and pray “lest you be caught by surprise.”
Prayer and vigilance during this Season lead us to a joyful day. They also lead to Jesus who shared in our humanity and who invites us to share with Him in Heavenly Life. Yearn for Christmas. Yearn for God. Yearn and prepare anew to be one with Jesus.