advent reflection for dec 5 copy

looking forward to the presence. . .

We all know what it's like to look forward to something good (like Christmas presents), but the anticipation builds even more when we’re waiting for relief from a terrible situation. One of the best ways to get ready for Christmas is to mentally go back in time to before Christ came, and to spiritually step into the shoes of the Jews who were waiting in great anticipation for the coming Messiah.

In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel goes through a lot of traumatic experiences. One such trauma was their exile from the promised land. While they were in exile, the people groaned for restoration. They sang songs about how much they missed their homeland (e.g., Psalm 137:1-3). They longed for redemption.

The Jews may have only known vaguely how God would restore his people, but what they really ached for was the coming of Jesus Christ. In our lives, too, we long for God’s redemption through his Son. We may not be displaced from our homeland in exile, but our struggle with sin and our hopes for our heavenly homeland create a hole in our hearts.
We often try and fill this hole with material things, worldly comforts, and even other people in our lives. Especially in this time of year, we try and fill this hole in our hearts with presents. Our redemption truly comes from unity with Jesus Christ. Let us bring this reflection to prayer and ask our Lord to fill our hearts with his divine presence.