Advent Reflection - First Sunday of Advent

When an infant can first see clearly, she will absorb every feature of her mother’s face, taking in all of its life, light and beauty. The longing of the people of Israel to see their Creator’s face ran deep, and even their past good deeds were of little consolation because these had become “like polluted rags”.

The human face has the power to welcome or to exclude, to console or to injure. In Advent’s promise of hope this year, in awaiting the cessation of violence, in awaiting healing, in awaiting the vaccine, are we capable of awaiting Christ’s face with compassionate gaze upon the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and even the one who has caused injury?

In truth, the answer is yes, we are capable of doing so. Staying “awake” and “alert” exists in putting into action God’s gift to us of steadfast love of the other; we certainly don’t have to lose any sleep about it.