The Coming of Special Guests

Father Mark’s homily at Annunciation last Sunday reminded us that Advent is a time to “clean out the house that is your soul” … there is a special guest about to arrive, and this is the perfect time to acknowledge our sins, reflect on our purpose and prepare to receive the gift that is Christ in Christmas.

I saw this related item in Sacred Space … “Advent is in many ways the most beautiful and profound time of the Christian year. Advent means ‘coming’, and the season is about our waiting for the most mysterious and wonderful coming of all, into the heart of our lives. The words of St Paul are relevant: “It is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

As I near the holidays and a return to our once-a-year full family gathering, I realize again that at Advent we all experience the coming of special guests in lots of different ways. Many are family, like my daughter traveling back from Argentina, kids coming home from college, distanced relatives joining some of us for the holidays. Some are old friends, like the members of my Men's Group in Greensboro I hope to see over the coming weeks ... some are new friends, like the small group of us who come together on Mondays for faith sharing. And then there are the people who unexpectedly come into our lives and thoughts, and show us God ... the homeless man under the bridge one of our members brought breakfast to, the deaf woman whose home we painted last weekend for Habitat, the service veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us on December 7th, 1941. All are special guests, in our homes and in our hearts.

We come together for these holidays, woven together by tradition and memory and love. Our joy is more palpable in emotion and song and prayer. The "day" is at hand and salvation definitely feels nearer than ever. And there is but one reason why. 

At the core of the season is Jesus, He who was the greatest guest, He who comes to us in scripture and hymn every year at this time, more clearly than at other times. And He who will be the greatest guest again, one day when we are least expecting Him. As we get closer to the holidays we will enjoy together, I pray that we may allow Jesus to come into our hearts this season as an expected guest, one whose company we treasure. He is indeed the Gift, to all of us.