The waiting game

The season of Advent is a "waiting game." Everyone is "waiting" for something.

 

*Students anxiously wait for finals to be over and the start of Christmas break.

 

*Some employees have the big wait, as they hold their breath and learn whether or not there will be a Christmas bonus.

 

*Retailers count the days til they can count the bottom line from the season's buying frenzy.

 

*Kids of all ages can't wait to open up the brightly wrapped presents starting to appear under the tree.

 

Everyone is waiting . . . for the wrong things.

 

Advent is not about waiting for sales, stuff, or Santa. Advent is about waiting for the appearance of something both eagerly anticipated and yet wholly unexpected. No, let me try again. Advent is about waiting for the appearance, not of something but of someone eagerly anticipated yet wholly unexpected. Jesus is not an Advent cut-away or cut-out. Jesus is the whole cut, the whole shebang, the whole story of Advent, Christmas, and Christmastide.