A Fresh Beginning

 

In most years by the time we get to Advent, we’re ready to leave the “ordinary” time of the year and embrace Advent with all of its promises.  But 2020 has been especially challenging for so many – illness and death, isolation, financial concerns, and the list could go on.  Many of us long for peace and serenity, for a sense of security and order, for something predictable.  The prophecies from Isaiah foretelling the rise of a new Davidic king should give us much hope and optimism (Isaiah 11:1-10).  This year the promise of Advent and everything new is more important than ever.  As I wrote about what we long for, I realized that’s exactly what we are promised – predictability – of a Child who will redeem us.  Isaiah creates a picture of peace and serenity –animals who live as enemies in nature are now able to co-exist in peace without threat to each other: “Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.”  (Isaiah 11:6).  Our chaotic world offers pitifully little of this these days.  How can we learn from these animals to look beyond our comfort zones and allow that little child to guide us?

Advent reminds us of a fresh beginning – an opportunity to welcome the new and out with the old.  All the feelings of being worn out from this horrendous year and wondering when isolation will come to an end fade when we realize that the very symbol of hope and everything good is coming.  The beginning of the Church year gives us a chance to begin anew and not only leave 2020 behind but also all the stress and uncertainty.  It reminds us that this earth and all of its challenges are just transitory – this is not our forever.  The journey here is not the final goal.  Sometimes, we let this fragile life direct our thoughts and attitude and drag us into unimportant details.  We forget to look at the bigger picture and the eternal life that should be our priority.

The season of Advent is just what this world needs right now to raise our spirits and direct us to the indisputably important aspects of life and preparation for our eternal life.  Advent reminds us to open our hearts as we anticipate and prepare for our greatest Gift.  It’s our Faith and hope of what’s to come that will support us and allow us to see beyond our troubles and this chaos called life.  Most importantly, Advent reveals what Jesus says to the disciples: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.  For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”  (Luke 10:21-24)