I’ve always loved Advent, because after Ordinary Time, it is the most human of the liturgical seasons. Advent is marked by longing, waiting, trusting—not knowing how everything will work out but remembering that God made a promise. We long for God to fulfill his promise. We wait for him to fulfill it. We work on trusting him while we wait. Of course, with Advent, we know how the story ends: on Christmas morning, Emmanuel, God-With-Us, Jesus, is born. Our waiting is over.

But in the Advent of our lives, the story’s ending may take much longer than four weeks. We do not know how or when God will be faithful; we cling to his promise anyway.

This is why Advent has always felt so real, so human. Advent is the season that gets me: I can give myself the freedom to admit how deep my longings are, to cry out to God to fulfill them, and be bolstered by the whole church crying out to God: come, Lord Jesus. At the same time, God cries back: rejoice, rejoice because I am here and I am coming ever closer.

Advent is ultimately about preparing our hearts and lives for the fulfillment of God’s promise. In a very real way, God’s promise is Jesus. Jesus is already here: in every tabernacle in every Catholic church in the Eucharist. So while you wait for God to fulfill his other promises to you—for your vocation, your family, your career, whatever you wait for—how can you prepare your heart and life for that fulfillment?

Fresh wreath on a white wall.

Preparing is always active, never passive

Just as we prepare during Advent to receive Jesus anew on Christmas morning, our waiting and preparation for God’s fulfillment in other ways must be active.

Some ways to prepare might include:

  • Going to therapy
  • Earning applicable certifications for your job/future career goals
  • Finding ways to move that make you happy (walking, yoga, lifting weights, running, etc.)

May this Advent be the season you give yourself permission to admit how deep your desires are. May 2022 be your chance to bring those longings to God more honestly than ever before. May God’s promise bolster you, even when his timing is different than yours.

While you work and wait, prepare and pray, may you find a home in Jesus this Advent season.

Click here to read past Advent pieces. Complete the form below to download your Advent 2022 Resource Guide now!

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