Our Advent Season of Waiting is complete.
We celebrated the birth of Our Savior, who came to save us. We rejoiced in the Epiphany when the Good News of the Word made flesh was opened to the world. We heard the beautiful story of the three magi making the long journey and presenting their best gifts to the Newborn King.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ~ Matthew 2:10-11
What are your 3 things?
What best parts of yourself would you present to Jesus if you were at the Nativity?
The house always seems so empty and bare to me after the Epiphany. The decorations are taken down and stored away until the next Advent, and it's not quite time to jump into Mardi Gras Season. So, I wind up asking myself, What do I do now????
Then it hit me! If it's really over, then what were we waiting for?
I guess you'd say I had my own "epiphany" 👑👑👑
It struck me that our entire lives are a period of waiting to be fully developed as followers of Christ and to one day see Him face-to-face! Isn't that our purpose ⎯ to grow to know, love, and serve God and to share the Good News of Salvation in Christ with others? In reality, from the moment we take our first breath, we are waiting to take our last. We are waiting for our turn to enter into Eternal Life with the Lord.
I have friends who lost a loved one during the Advent Season. Their waiting was over, and they were in the presence of their Savior, Jesus Christ. Imagine what that Christmas must have felt like for them!
I have known people who were aware that their earthly journey was coming to an end, and they were pillars of Grace in the waiting. Their joy and calm, trusting in God's plan to bring them home to Him, was quite inspirational. I've also known others who were in denial and filled with fear. They clung to this world and weren't ready to move into the next. They were believers who hadn't lived their earthly journey as preparation for Heaven, and their struggle in the waiting was difficult to witness.
So, how are you in the waiting?
There is much to do in our busy lives. Even retired folks seem to never find time to do the things they have waited their whole careers to enjoy. But we seem to forget that our lives aren't just about what we do. Life is about what God can do and what He longs to do.
We hear reminders of that truth in the Readings throughout this week.
Believe in the name of Jesus Christ, and love one another. He remains in us by the Holy Spirit whom He gave us.
Out of love for us, God sent his only-begotten Son into the world as expiation for our sins so that we might have life through him. When we turn to Him, Jesus takes our small offering, blesses it to provide our daily bread, and multiplies it for the good of many.
Jesus showed us the importance of spending time in quiet prayer with the Father, and when He sees us in trouble, He will walk on water to save us.
Jesus fulfilled the prophecies in Scripture, bringing Salvation to all.
The Lord heals us and makes us clean. We need only trust in Him.
We belong to God, not the world and if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and takes delight in us.
If we believe these words of Sacred Scripture, we see the truth that life is about what God can do in us. As we live and grow, our work needs to be more and more aligned with His work. We cannot predict when our time will arrive for us to enter into Eternal Life with the Lord. Take a moment to consider what you are doing to enrich your days as you await your turn. Although our lives are busy, we also spend a lot of time waiting. Sometimes, we wait patiently, but other times, our waiting may not be very patient ~ like when the light is red, when the test results are due, or when we need a reply to a text or a prayer.
So, what are we waiting for?
We all have habits (good and bad) that we learned along the way and have become a part of who we are today. As the years go by, we continue to develop new habits to get our necessary work done in each particular season of our lives. We set alarms to wake up and get ready. We have calendar reminders for important dates and events. Some pieces become habits, and we no longer need alarms and reminders to get them done.
What new habits will you learn in 2025, the Jubilee Year of Hope?
Here's my idea that will replace making New Year's resolutions. I hope you will join me.
Make a list of 3 things you will present to the Lord. This can become an annual Epiphany habit. Take some time with this. Give some serious thought and prayer to consider what 3 gifts you will give to God. Ask what He wants from you.
Write down your list of those 3 things. Make them very specific. Here are some examples that have been on my heart as potential gifts to Him. They are challenging, and hopefully, they will inspire your list. Remember, this is our most important life's work!
Rather than listing "pray more" ~ Write "Set my alarm to wake up 10 minutes earlier each day and spend uninterrupted time reading the Daily Readings and praying over Scripture."
Rather than listing "be more mindful of God's presence" ~ Write "Each week, save a new image of a holy card, an inspiring Scripture verse, or a short prayer like 'Jesus, I trust in You' or 'Jesus, I surrender myself to Your will.'" Make it your phone lock screen. Pray it every time you look at your phone. You'll have it memorized quickly!
Rather than listing "do more for others" ~ Write "Make a weekly call or visit to someone in need, someone who lives alone, or someone I have lost touch with. Share a prayer with them and be unrushed."
Rather than listing "cut back on mindless activities" ~ Write "Keep track of my time spent on social media and watching television, and schedule equal time with Spiritual Reading and conversation with God."
Rather than listing "do a healthy activity weekly" ~ Write "Choose one day a week to fast from social media and screens. Spend time in nature, relax with a hobby, or meet a friend for a relaxing in-person chat.
Rather than listing "spread kindness" ~ Write "Be intentional about greeting people with eye contact and a smile. Ask them what they are most looking forward to in 2025."
Rather than listing "be more positive" ~ Write "Make a concerted effort to not engage in gossip and negative talk. Say something positive and complimentary to turn the conversation around."
Rather than listing "care for the environment" ~ Write "Do my part to beautify the earth by picking up discarded trash I find along the sidewalks and pathways."
Rather than listing "be more attentive to loved ones" ~ Write "Turn off or silence and put away my devices (including my smartwatch) when I'm engaged in conversation, visiting a friend, or sitting in Mass and Adoration, so that the buzzing won't distract or interrupt us."
Print your detailed list of 3 Things and hang it where you will see it every day. Add your 3 Things in your schedule to do at least once a week, and set an alarm to remind yourself to present your gifts to Jesus. By next January, these will be new habits, and you will have given your best to God a minimum of 156 times! Repeat the process each year to celebrate the Epiphany presenting new gifts of yourself to Him, and your work will continue to be more and more aligned with His work. Your prayer and worship will never become mundane or stale.
I am inspired by that great song by King and Country, What are We Waiting For?
What are we waiting for?
Why are we wasting all the time like someone's making more?
What are we praying for?
What are we saving for?
What if we could be the light that no one could ignore?
What are we waiting for?
What are you waiting for? What are your 3 things?
This has me pondering! Beautiful!
So insightful!
What a lovely way to begin the New Year …. With a real plan in place That will bring His Goodness and Love
Always enlightening.