Pope Benedict XV1 said,
“It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and this opens the doors of hope.”
This third week of Advent ties in well with this message, as hope springs eternal in all of us creating a feeling of joy, which sustains us no matter what path we are on or where we are on the journey.
Why was John the Baptist sent to let people know who was this person Jesus. He became known as the ‘voice in the wilderness’ letting everyone know that Jesus is the light who shows us the way thus enriching our lives. This gift of life comes with a whole range of emotions that people have experienced down through the ages at various ages and stages of our lives. The “light” that Jesus is, is especially important as we experience suffering or sorrow, despair or rejection etc. It creates in us hope to cling to, so that we can feel nourished by joy helping us to count our blessings with the gift of life.
The story of John the Baptist is a simple story told in very few words. But he had a job to do while he found himself living in the wilderness. We can think this was his choice and therefore it was easy for him. But was it? The word wilderness can conjure up lots of different feelings, emotions and experiences in us and I’m sure John the Baptist experienced some or all of them during his time. But we know that he was driven by that hope filled joy knowing that Jesus was the “light” showing a clear path forward and he embraced it fully.
Image: Unsplash/Greyson Joralemon
In our daily lives we can experience difficulty, loss and suffering but when we get the strength to persevere, that deep seated hope can get us through and allow us to feel a sense of joy again. This can be a major or a minor awakening within us. There are many examples throughout our lives when this can occur when we achieve a certain goal, when we find a certain problem has resolved itself or when we get good news in the midst of tragedy etc.
In our busy world today and given the technology and comforts we have created down through the ages it is easy to be impatient and expect instant gratification in many aspects of our lives. We need to reflect on the bigger picture and where we fit into the grand scheme of things and on the meaning of life as we know it. “Glimmers” are tiny moments of joy, an unexpected phone call, a smile, a bird singing, a cool breeze etc. Once you start looking for them you will find glimmers everywhere. Unfortunately joy too can evaporate and be taken over by other emotions or can become hidden or buried in our psyche, never to become part of our persona that builds strength and resilience to live the life that we were destined to live.
Image: Unsplash/Kolby Milton
We all experience these life lessons, they come to us in many different forms, reading other people’s life stories, our own experiences, or just living our lives in a specific community. Advent is a time for us to reflect on those coping strategies that allow us to experience joy filled hope as we embrace all the different aspects of life.
Mary O’Sullivan, CSJ Associate