In the very first week of November, I celebrated Mass in a supermarket. At the entrance, I saw beautiful Christmas decorations. As I got inside the supermarket, I saw beautiful and colorful Christmas packages, and somehow they were ready to be taken. The Christmas songs added even more joyful atmospheres at this supermarket. Indeed, Christmas is around the corner, and it always brings joy, even to the stock market. That is why people said, "The Philippines has the longest Christmas in the world.”
It is in the midst of Christmas atmosphere that we call for a well-prepared. Alternatively, let's embrace Advent as a unique occasion! But why do we have advent? Is advent necessary for our Christmas preparation? If Christ has already been born, what is the purpose of waiting for advent? Have we forgotten about his birth?
If there is one thing that could answer the question of the importance of advent, it has to do with Jesus’ birth into our hearts. Advent is about settling down for a while and opening the door of our hearts to let God in. Indeed, the secret of our Christmas’ joy is Jesus, who dwells in our hearts. Pope Francis put it beautifully: “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. He sets free those who accept his offer of salvation from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness, and loneliness. With Christ, joy is constantly born anew” (EG. 1).
It is interesting to look at some figures in the gospel, especially on how they prepare themselves to welcome Jesus. Zechariah and Elizabeth are waiting. Mary is waiting. Simeon and Anna stood in the temple, anticipating the priest's presentation of Jesus. It’s fascinating to see that they are waiting for something good to happen: “Don’t be afraid. I have something good to say to you.”
We also know that there were some people, as remnants of the Israelite nation, who are waiting for a Messiah. In other words, all of them are waiting in the light of a promise. “Zechariah, your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son.” “Mary, listen! You are to conceive and bear a son.” This promise is a guarantee for what they are waiting for. They wait for something that has already started to grow in their life. This is very important for us because we too can wait only if what we are waiting for has already begun in us. “Waiting is never a movement from nothing to something. It is always a movement from something to something more.”
Reflecting on the life of Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, and Anna, we can see that their waiting is active. They were really present at the right moment. Their active waiting enables them to hear the voice of God. This enables them to hear the angel's message, "Don't be afraid." We can also add that they are waiting with patience. They have faith and hope, ensuring the fulfillment of the promises they have heard. Only people who have patience can see the future with hope.
Waiting is an essential part of our spirituality as Xaverian Missionaries too. We can look at the life of our Founder, Guido Maria Conforti. His life is full of waiting moments. Sometimes what he was waiting for became "useless." He was waiting for the answer of the Jesuits regarding his willingness to enter their congregation. He was also anticipating the acceptance of the Salesian Congregation. He eagerly anticipated receiving his priestly ordination. But what made our founder’s waiting so special was he was waiting for something—a seed that had started to grow. His encountering with the crucified Jesus was “the” seed planted in his heart, a seed that would enable him to say, “I look at him, and he looks at me, and he seem said many things to me.” Conforti’s waiting was definitely in the light of promise and hope. He fulfilled this promise by becoming the good shepherd for two flocks.
As missionaries, we journey with people, patiently waiting and walking alongside them wherever our calling takes us. One of the most beautiful passages of Scripture begins, “Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went to Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.” The visit of Mary enabled Elizabeth to realize what she is waiting for. The child leapt for joy in her. And then Elizabeth said to Mary, "Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary responded, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” By being together, these two women created space for each other to wait. Here, we can observe a model that exemplifies our approach to fulfilling our mission. We live with the people to confirm their hopes. We live with them to help each other realize what we're waiting for.
The question is, are we at home when He rings our doorbell? Are we ready to open our gate and let him enter into our hearts and into our community? In other words, He who will come is also waiting for us. “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” (Rev.20). MARANATHA!
