O Come, God With Us

The Incarnation of Christ is the beginning of a long journey filled with both joys and sufferings for Mary, Joseph, and of course Jesus himself. However, it is also our great source of peace and hope. Our Creator and Heavenly Father took on human nature out of his immense love and desire to be close to us. The Gospels give us some clues of the life experiences that brought both delights and hardships to the members of the Holy Family during their time together. As we long for eternal life with the Holy Family, we can find peace in Christ’s desire to know and love us in our earthly lives as well.
The Jewish people waited for a savior for thousands of years. God did not leave them alone in their longing and waiting, nor does he leave us alone. Our human senses tell us that seasons of waiting and preparation are times of darkness and separation. In those moments, let us look to the simple Advent wreath, which shows that the closer we come to Jesus, the more light comes into our lives, and the more joyful anticipation we experience as we await his coming.