Waiting

“When you approach the tabernacle, remember that He has been waiting for you for twenty centuries.” St. Josemaria Escriba

I would often need to sit in traffic in various places and times during the year. It is never fun. We have all waited in the doctor’s office or the dentist or somewhere to get something done. I was recently visiting a parish where I do not go so often. Sometimes, my mind is in and out on the homily but that day I seemed to be paying attention. We are close to Christmas and where I live, Christmas decorating and celebrating begins November 1st or even earlier. I hear Christmas music for months before and when the 26th of December arrives, I wonder what happened to Christmas. But the Church that day reminded me that the Jewish people waited for centuries for the Messiah to arrive. During the homily, the priest made note of the fact that during Advent, we wait for Christ. Some of the people at the time, according to the homily, might have thought what they were waiting for would never arrive. Simeon wanted to see the Messiah before he left this world. He was given the opportunity. Now, we are waiting no more. The sadness for me is the idea that Christmas is simply gift giving and dinners. Christ is still the reason for the season and December the 25th and the Nativity is evidence that the wait is over.

“God is waiting for us…. Like the father in the parable, with open arms, even though we don’t deserve it.” St. Josemaria Escriba

I think of St. Monica and how much she waited for her son, St. Augustine, to come into the Church. What joy in her heart there must have been when he finally did so.  That’s why St. Philip Neri said, “Sufferings are a kind of paradise to him who suffers them with patience, while they are a hell to him who has no patience.” Waiting is not fun. The phone to ring, the email to arrive or any big event that demands patience is sometimes more difficult than one can imagine. The reality is, God asks us for patience. The Jewish people of the Old Testament needed to wait for what seemed like an eternity. The Jewish people wandered the desert for an incredible amount of time. The father of the Prodigal Son must have lived an agonizing time waiting. I remember a homily about this event when I was a teenager and the priest mused about the possibility that the father went to the end of the road every day to look for his son with the hopes he would return. We need to be reminded in a companionship that Christ is doing everything for our good – even though we might not see it.

“Continue to be patient; it will all be for your good.” St. Padre Pio

How many times as a child would my mom tell me this? Often and no one wants to hear the word wait. I remember before I started teaching, I was told I would not be good because I have no patience. I proved everyone wrong, but it was all worth it. Yes, I had to learn patience. Yes, I had to learn many things, and that is what Christ does – He waits for us. There is a cost to trust in our Lord. But, where else would we turn? To whom should be go? The Apostles asked our Lord where they should go. Evidently, we must pray for faith. Lord, increase our faith. Stay attached. Let us not be distracted by the distractions around us at Christmas that society pushes on us. Society offers only distractions for us, yet the Church reminds us that it is our Lord who waits for us in every moment.

“Advent is a time of waiting for our Lord, who visits us all in our own hearts. The Lord is coming! Let us wait for Him!” Pope Francis