Psalm 130:5 (CEB) 

I hope, Lord. 
My whole being hopes, 
    and I wait for God’s promise.
 

Advent – the season of preparation and hope. Every year, we are called to prepare for the coming of Jesus and to hope on the promise he brings. But some years we do our preparing and hoping in different ways than we “normally” do. These are years when circumstances change the trajectories of our “normal” lives in some way. 

This is one of those years for me as I am in a season of preparation for knee surgery next week. This means I will not likely be spending Christmas Eve or Day as I usually do, since a rehab stay is part of the process for me. It is a hard pill for me to swallow, but since I am hoping to (eventually) walk without pain, it is what needs to be. So, I have altered my usual physical Advent “preparation” since my healing process will complicate the “undecking” of the halls after Christmas.

It's not the first time my practice of Advent preparation has been altered. Every major change in my life has seen some changes appear. It is the same for many of us. Loved ones die and holiday routines are forever altered. Marriages and the advent of another generation means traditions change – as does the departure of children for new life adventures. Or simply the aging process that can limit our ability to continue those traditions. When those traditions change, we miss them. 

But missing what once was and is no longer does not change the call to prepare for Jesus or to hope on his promise. The psalmist writes, “I hope, Lord. My whole being hopes, and I wait for God’s promise.” This is the essence of Advent. It matters more than any tradition we might long to continue. Jesus is the hope we have – the promise God offers us that there will come a day when God’s love truly reigns in this world; when peace surrounds the earth; when we see all people as children of God. It is the preparation of our hearts that matters more than all the holiday traditions we hold dear. 

For me, this particular season will pass, but - I hope. I hope for Jesus, the child, who’s coming we celebrate each year. I hope for Jesus, who is to come. So, each year I prepare my heart for his coming, no matter what else is happening, through prayer and meditation, hearing and singing the carols I love, and reading Scripture. And I wait for God’s promise to be fulfilled. 
 

Prayer for Reflection

Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12