THE TIME OF ADVENT

The thought of the time of Advent as a time of waiting, patience, perseverance, of slow maturations supported by hope, leads me to think of the plowman who awaits the precious fruit of the earth. This farmer makes his own these essential qualities, which are the key for every Christian to walk in faith.

But if hope is dead in us, who will be its bearer? Who will be able to tell the world that God’s promise of life, of happiness, is fulfilled at Christmas, and that it goes far beyond anything that can be hoped for, even in misfortune! In our pastoral experience, we meet elderly people who no longer expect anything. Perhaps they have waited so long that their disappointed heart is incapable of starting to wait for something or someone again. Something in them is worn out: desire. Perhaps we are among them?

If so, “Open the doors,” Isaiah tells us. Do not let the flame go out in you. Look at what the Lord does: he protects us, he builds peace solidly; he is the rock forever and he gives victory to the humble. We have to let ourselves be seized by this testimony of faith filled with hope and believe that there is a beyond the aridity of this moment.

Jesus always insisted on the duty that falls to each member of the community (young or old), to always remain attentive. "Be on your guard, lest your hearts be weighed down with debauchery, drunkenness and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you unexpectedly".

Strong in realizing that we do not know how to wait. We have been taught to run, to live in stress or in a frenetic way and with permanent deadlines. That is why we do not have time to wait to think about a decision or a result, we want everything to happen quickly, even if it means missing out on great opportunities in life and making mistakes. Emmanuel Kant said: "Patience is the strength of the fragile and impatience, the fragility of the strong".

At Christmas, our hope will be fulfilled, because God is used to keeping his promises. The one who fulfills all our desires will be present among us. We will then be able, like Isaiah, to sing the faithfulness of the Lord.

Father Denis Ndène

Continental Chaplain for French-speaking Africa