SAUCIER — In the clear
A friend of mine told me that if the Church was serious about Advent, it would place it somewhere else in the year when things are not so busy.
He was being ironic, but his point is well taken. It’s a hectic time. But look at your calendar. When isn’t it?
So, even during all of our pre-Christmas craziness, it’s as good a time as any to make an Advent effort.
We hear the voice of a homeless prophet urging listeners to repent, to change, to make ready a way for the Lord. But what does that even mean?
The gospels identify John the Baptist as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s vision: “A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord.”
The Hebrew word for prepare is “pan-nu,” a command which in some translations is rendered “clear,” as in “clear the way for the Lord.”
For me, “clear” is the more precise term and the more needed response.
Historically, Advent was a time of spiritual discipline to prepare for the reenactment of birth of Emmanuel, God with us. It was also meant to make one ready for the Second Coming of Christ.
But what about the in-between time, the time between those cosmic events in which we find ourselves?
The Incarnation was not a divine visitation but a vivid reminder that God is embedded in life, is present at the very heart of our lives.
We don’t need to prepare a path for the Lord. God is here, waiting on us.
We need to clear away all the obstacles and distractions that separate us from the Hope and Light that is always within our reach.
How do we “clear” that path? Time is probably our best tool.
A little time for prayer and reflection, ignoring for a moment the ticking Christmas clock, is a good place to start.
Committing myself to some small spiritual practice, whatever works for me personally — a meditative walk, a daily Rosary, a period of silence, part of the Liturgy of the Hours — will help clear the path.
No doubt, the greater the time we can commit, the better the results. But something small can still make a difference.
Even in these hectic days, we can do a little path-clearing. And if we can do it now, we can do it anytime.
We need to remember that the spirituality of Advent is not meant to be a passing season, but the beginning of a habit.
