Reflection for the Second Sunday in Advent: The Peace Candle is Lit.
“Comfort, O comfort my people, “ (Isaiah 40, 1-5)
Looking at the big picture right now, the world could use a little comfort. But alas, we wait. We “wait on the Lord” indefinitely for a time of peace. We also wait for times of personal peace in our own hearts and souls. The question is “ how do we find peace in our waiting?”
waiting for the kettle to boil
waiting for a baby to be born
waiting for a loved one to die
waiting for the pandemic to be over
waiting to retire
waiting for a healing
(think of the man who waited 40 years at the pool of Bethesda)
Image: Unsplash/Laura Nyhuis
On it goes. We wait and wait; sometimes with anticipation and hope, sometimes in fear and dread. Sometimes our waiting can wear us down. Our waiting can often be compared to a walk in the dark. We must go through the darkness day by day, to get to the light. But think of the times in your own life when the trial did end, you got the call, the illness was healed, the baby was born, retirement arrived and the light did come. Is there a lesson here? Is there a cycle here that faith can alleviate? In most cases, the answer is yes! Of course, sometimes there is no happy ending and we must accept the inevitable death of our dreams, hopes and expectations.
Image: Unsplash/Jonathan Meyer
For me, the most difficult wait is the one where fear takes over our usually rational mind. My equilibrium is upset. My racing thoughts won’t cease and my mind takes over. It is said that the ego must always find something to nag us about. This is the time where a regular spiritual practice is important to my wellbeing. It is possible to let go of the ego mind even if it is temporary. I can centre myself in God’s presence and I can find my affirmations one more time and remember to say them. One of my favourites is, “ Let us abandon ourselves Into the heart of LOVE, for LOVE’s grace abides wherever we are.” I believe that this is what John the Baptist is telling us when he says to “make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Make way for that space within myself where peace resides. Because it does reside in each of us. And so we pray, pray, pray.
And let us be comforted in hope by the words from Isaiah: “he will gather the lambs in his arms and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.” Be comforted by the words in scripture and in the beautiful music that is available to us. And finally, St. Peter has some words of wisdom for us:
Image: Unsplash/Tamara Menzi
“ Therefore, Beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace.”
( 2 Peter 3, 8-14)
- Marg Maheu, Associate