First Gift of Advent: Waiting

Waiting patiently in expectation is the foundation of the spiritual life. ~Simone Weil

Waiting

What are you waiting for?

The Christmas story, as told in the Gospel of Luke, does not begin with shepherds and wise men. It opens with a barren womb and a doubting priest. The birth story closes with a man glimpsing a long-awaited consolation, and a prophetess “of great age,” whose life was spent pleading for God to act.

Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon, Anna–waiting. Their eyes all turned in the same direction, their hands stretched toward the same flickering hope.

Every Christmas, nestled beneath the tinsel and brightly wrapped packages, looking over the shoulder of carolers and cheerful greetings, is the sobering reminder. We wait too.

The gift of waiting is God’s all-time best-selling gift. His favorite stocking stuffer, his traditional party favor. Some of us would be happy to exchange it.

Come Empty

Oh, my friend, come to the manger. Come empty-handed, carry no gifts for the Child. Instead,

bring your basket of longings,
your sleigh full of fears,
a platter of pleadings
and a wassail mug of tears.

It will be enough. For Advent does not mean we come with solutions or certainty. We watch for the One who has come and who will arrive.

The name Zechariah means God remembers.
The name Elizabeth means God’s promise.
The name Simeon means God has heard.
The name Anna means Grace, favor.

Notice how God had woven hope, assurance and a promise into their names, their identities, long before they knew they would need it? He has done the same for you. His love is imprinted on every cell of your being. And that’s why he makes you wait. Because while you are waiting, something is being born in you:

Trust

Henri Nouwen wrote, “To wait open-endedly is an enormously radical attitude toward life. So is to trust that something will happen to us that is far beyond our own imaginings. So, too, is giving up control over our future and letting God define our life, trusting that God molds us according to God’s love and not according to our fear.”

Luke 1:5-25; Luke 2:21-40

On this first Sunday of Advent, does the waiting seem long?