Waiting in joyful expectation

The Church defines the period of Advent as a time of “devout and joyful expectation” (Universal norms of the liturgical year, n° 39).

Waiting for what? For whom?

The same document gives the answer: waiting for Christmas, which commemorates “the Son of God’s First Coming to us,” and waiting for “Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time”.

Waiting in expectation with thoughts of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Waiting in expectation, looking at where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going.

Joyfully waiting, because the expected one always brings light and goodness to bear.

With the beginning of Advent now in sight, shouldn’t we say to ourselves: “Happy are those who are waiting for Christ, this year, as one awaits a brother, a sister, a friend, a liberator, a saviour. Happy are those who will truly wait for him, not allowing discouragement, sadness or hurts to keep them from living in expectation.”

Shouldn’t we also turn to the Almighty with the invocation: “Grant that I… grant that we, Lord Jesus, be among those who wait for you in expectation.”

This is not a needless prayer but an absolutely necessary one. For we can recite the prayers of the Church throughout Advent, which entreat us to wait for him, and still not really live in expectation. Or live in expectation only passively. Or be expecting something for which we should not really be waiting.

Whatever you do, don’t wait for things but for someone, the man from Galilee to whom we can never draw close enough.

Don’t wait to be delivered from your cross, but wait for the courage to bear it patiently without acting like a martyr.

Don’t wait for everyone to think alike in the Church, but wait for the grace to remain united in faith, hope and charity.

Don’t wait to become harvesters, but wait in joy while planting patiently.

Don’t wait for our Church to re-emerge tomorrow as the strong, beautiful Church of our youth, but wait to be surprised by a transformed Church that brings light to the world.

Don’t wait for churches to be full once again throughout the diocese but wait for our Eucharistic celebrations to be filled more and more with people passionate about the Gospel.

Don’t wait for dreams to come true, but wait for what God wants for us.

Wait for his peace and love, his tenderness and forgiveness.

Wait for his life, his inspiration.

Above all, wait for his Son, his beloved who is also our beloved.

This is the Advent period. This is the time for “devout and joyful expectation” that we are called once more to experience.

† Jean-Claude Turcotte
Archbishop of Montréal