"Are we there yet?" - Rector's Rambling for December 15, 2013

“Are we there yet?”

How often have we heard a child say that in exasperation, particularly on a long trip?  And unless the answer is “yes”, no explanation of time left will be really satisfactory.  In my car, the answer is usually, “soon”, which is definitely not helpful.  Soon is never soon enough.

Well, guess what?  We are almost there!  Christmas is coming soon!  This is Gaudéte [Rejoice] Sunday, which means we are beginning our 3rd week of Advent (of four) and as the rose-colored vestments signify, we “lighten up” a bit from the deeper penitential purple.  And tomorrow we begin our “O” antiphons at Evening Prayer.  Before the Magnificat (after the First Lesson) there is an antiphon appointed for each day from December 16 through the 24th, giving us another way to mark time as we head towards the grand feast of the birth of Jesus.

And of course, let us remember that even though our eyes and hearts are mostly fixed on the upcoming Holy Day, we are also preparing our hearts for the other reality that Jesus Christ is coming back, and may do so today!  Just as we want to be ready with gifts wrapped and house decorated for December 25, so too we want our souls prepared in case Jesus returns to bring us home, or we go home to meet him in our own earthly death.  In either case, no one knows the day nor the hour.

At morning prayer is also an antiphon for every day in Advent – Our King and Saviour draweth nigh: O come let us adore him.  This is a wonderful reminder that even though the idea of the end of the world may sound at first terrifying, it is actually a great moment of joy and grace if we love Jesus Christ!  So let us love Him and serve Him more and more!