Advent: What's with All the Waiting?

       Every year, as I visit the grocery store and see the some employees marking the Halloween candy at a 50% discount, I see others simultaneously stocking shelves with other candy, decorations, and general Christmas and holiday merchandise.  Then, as soon as December 26 arrives, all those things head to the clearance racks.  We see lights and decorations going up on houses, Christmas tunes on the radio, and party invitations and cards in the mail.  Yet, when we arrive at church, all that we see is a four-candled wreath and priests and deacon dressed in purple?  What is the discrepancy here?  Is the Catholic Church full of Ebenezer Scrooges?!
       Of course, we know better than that, but it can make us feel out of sorts to have to be waiting liturgically for the arrival of Christmas while our culture all around us speeds ahead.  This begs the question, “What’s with all the waiting?”  After all, delayed gratification is not exactly en vogue these days.  Thankfully, the Church has an answer, and it is a two-fold one.  First, Advent reminds of the time that humanity spent waiting for a savior.  As we read through the Old Testament and the history of the chosen people of Israel, we begin to realize just how long the world waited for the Messiah and what a joyous event his arrival indeed was.  The second reason is to remind us that we are still waiting, preparing ourselves for Jesus’ Second Coming at the end of time.  For us as Catholics, we look forward to this moment not in fear of the unknown but in hopeful expectation of eternal life.
       Our challenge, then, in the midst of the swirl of activity in our culture this time of year, is to spend some time as a family in intentional waiting.  We cannot, of course, pretend as if nothing is happening to prepare for Christmas, but I do think there are a few ideas we might try.  Most families have a nativity crèche as a part of their Christmas decorations.  Instead of placing all the figures all at once, leave baby Jesus and the magi in the box.  Bring them out only on the liturgically appropriate days.  Be intentional about your family advent wreath, praying around it before dinner or once everyone arrives home from their many activities.  Wait to pull out all the stops on your Christmas celebrations until the day actually arrives.  One great thing about being Catholic is that we really know how to prolong a celebration!  The Christmas season lasts all the way until the Baptism of the Lord, which is January 12 this year.  Keep your lights burning brightly and your homes festive as we consider the awesome mystery of God becoming one of us.  There are other ideas of keeping the Advent and Christmas seasons well, of course, so pray about what you will do as a family to wait for the Lord and celebrate with true joy once he comes.