Advent 2022: Apparently, God is not in a hurry.

Advent is the season in the liturgical year that consists of the 4 weeks leading up to the celebration of Christmas. Advent means arrival. But we are not talking about just any arrival, but specifically about the arrival of Jesus. Immanuel, God with us.

Some of us may think of Jesus' arrival just on the day we celebrate Christmas. Not that this is wrong, but there is something transformative in considering this time prior to that day as one of preparation, expectation, longing, and yes, waiting.

In Advent we consider what it was like to wait for Jesus to come just over 2,000 years ago. As the sun breaks in the morning and the darkness cannot stop its course, we know that the arrival of Jesus brought light to the nations.

We also think about our current wait for his glorious return, whereby he will establish his full reign and, just as he promised, we will be with him forever.

But there is a third way in which Jesus comes to us. There is an ordinary and daily arrival, in the midst of our getting up and laying down, in opur doubt and our certainty, in our courage and in our fears, in our joys and our sorrows. He comes constantly, no matter where we are, no matter how we are. 

Waiting is weird.

It's something we all do frequently. We should be experts. Yet it never feels normal. We often wait because we have no other option. If it were, we would almost always (if not always) prefer it. We tend to equate quickness with efficiency and productivity. But if so, it seems that God is not as interested in these terms as we are. 

We could think of many biblical examples for waiting (Abraham and Sarah waited, so did Rachel, and Moses, and Ruth, even the whole nation waited repeatedly) but maybe none as important as the waiting for the Messiah to come. 

Imagine for a moment that after centuries of promises, prophecies, events, kings, ins and outs, victories and defeats, it is finally time for God to send the long-awaited savior and deliverer. 

And in the moment of truth, here he comes.....(pause for effect)....a baby.

A baby? Seriously, God? Couldn't you send him already grown up and ready for his mission? Couldn't you send him at least capable of defending himself? 

Are you telling me that this Messiah must be breastfed, have his diaper changed, taught to do everything, send him to do household chores, among other things?

Should we still wait even longer?

So, yeah, Apparently, God is not in a hurry. And I believe that time after time he invites us to wait, but to do it intentionally. Not like it's a parenthesis, or wasted time. Nor as it were a punishment. And even less like we just wait "to see what happens".

Our waiting is informed by the one whom we wait, and what we are waiting for. 

That is what advent is all about. Waiting on someone, waiting for something. Simply put, we wait for God, and we wait for him to do according to his promises. 

I don't wish to come across as insensitive. Waiting is not easy. Of the most painful experiences of my own life, many have had to do with waiting. Wether it's for a job, a relationship, or a baby. I don't like this waiting thing either. 

But I believe our faith provides for us to face waiting in an honest and healthy way. And in the process of waiting, to realize that God is much more interested in who we are as we wait, than in the things we can do while we wait.  

Listen to the whisper of God that says: "wait, wait, wait". Tell your soul to wait. 

My hope is that together we would be willing, available, attentive, as we prepare our hearts for his arrival.