It is hard to be patient when we really want something. Yet, Saint James instructs us: "Be patient, brothers and sisters." In this day and age you can track packages and, yes, it is hard to be patient when that package you are waiting for seems to sit in one place for days especially the city that it is being sent to.
In our life there are many things which test our patience and thus too our trust in the Lord. When health starts to falter it is easy to grow impatient as you await its improvement. When one loses a job it is easy to grow impatient as you await a new one. When one is suffering from loneliness it is easy to grow impatient as you await the connection of another.
Our Gospel brings us to the disciples of Saint John the Baptist. They were sent by John to discover the Messiah. The one who he had sent them to was the one for whose path he had prepared. The disciples of Saint John the Baptist had to be filled with fear for John was placed in prison, but there was no reason for them to be filled with fear for the Messiah was present in their midst.
Despite all that tests our patience and makes us begin to doubt our faith may we to come to realize that the Messiah is here with us. May we come to trust in this reality for ourself. If we can trust in this reality it will matter not what befalls us in this life for we will have Christ as our rock. Life may not be easy, but it will have true meaning through its relationship to Christ.
Therefore, may we have a true longing in our heart to discover this Messiah. The season of Advent is about the discovery of this Messiah. It is about casting off all that keeps us from drawing close to the Messiah and thus coming to place our trust in Him. We cannot allow ourself to arrive at Christmas with no room for the Messiah to enter into the inn of our heart. This would be a great mistake and would be a total waste of the gift of the Advent season.
On this third Sunday of Advent we are instructed to "Rejoice because the Lord is near." Indeed we are to rejoice for the Lord has come to set us free from our pain, fear, and sin. He has come to give life to all those difficult moments where we have grown impatient under the burden of time. Rejoice for the Lord loves us dearly and He unites Himself upon the cross with us in order that we may be set free and thus be given a glimpse into the rewards of Eternal Life.
Yes, we are quickly drawing close to the manger of our Blessed Lord. We are to rejoice here with Him for we will soon dwell with Him in eternal life. He who we discover here ushers peace into the world and thus too brings meaning to our life which is in search of meaning. May wen truly allow ourself to be patient through our relationship with the Lord in order that we may rejoice for the Lord is near.
