A Takeaway of Permanence

Most of the writings shared within this year’s Advent reflections have dealt with preparation and anticipation. As they should. For me, the blessings from those submissions were, and continue to be, flowing and forming. As Mary sings, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, my spirit rejoices…” I find my spirit rejoicing, nowadays. My body is tired—after forty I think that’s an ontological shift—but my spirit soars. Reading the writings of my peers, my friends, my mentors? These people, this great group of earthly witnesses, have given the gift of foresight. I have been able to prepare myself (somewhat) adequately for the coming Incarnation of Christ.

For me, that’s life-giving. 

Yet, even as I enjoy the stillness of anticipation, the waiting for what has already been and yet to be, I look to the future. What happens on December 26th? All of this preparation, the totality of spiritual naval gazing, what does it accomplish if it’s expiration date is Thursday? Wondering has led to wandering into next year. I don’t want this diagonal advance to be over. I want to keep learning about my relationship with God and holding the bated breath for Christ’s return. I don’t want to stop just because the calendar changes colors.

For the first time, Advent has fully manifested as a takeaway of permanence in my life. Keeping the practices going will be an uphill trudge at some points; of that I have no doubt. Yet, maintaining those ascetics will stoke the embers left from the fires of holy questioning and self-examination which remain post-Advent. My question, then, isn’t what happens in two days from now. My question is cemented in how I will conduct and continue my search for the thin spaces God offers throughout the year.

I hope for joy to fill your hearts. I hope for grief to be mitigated. I hope for love to abound. And mostly, for the purposes of this article? I hope you continue to search for those same spaces, as I do, and that we meet each other along the way. This growth, this advent of new realization, can continue. It doesn’t have to stop. We are the ones in control of our own part in our relationship with God. Will we stop the seeking due to the Incarnation? Or, will we follow behind Jesus as he is named; as he is baptized; as he flees to Egypt; as he returns; as he gathers his disciples and makes them apostles; as he performs miracles and fulfills scriptures; as the extraordinary leads to the ordinary and we find ourselves back at the start?

Blessed Advent to you. Merry Christmas to you. Enjoy your Epiphanies in the new year. Embrace Lenten disciplines. Surf the Eastertide and land on Ordinary soil. Then, walk through until we await his coming again.

For me, that’s all of it. And it’s all Jesus, all the way home.

Faithfully, 

Fr. Sean+