Those Who Wait

Last year about this time, I wrote about Leland's Advent calendar. In 2020, he has graduated from Lego City to the Lego Star Wars set and instead of him walking into our room as his first waking moment, we've been hearing him bound down the stairs to say good morning to Darth Vader & Poe Dameron—each donning Christmas sweaters.

Not much has changed in terms of his patience or the avalanche of generosity he recieves. (For the record, we still have the un-opened science kits and bug-catching sets I mentioned last year.) But as the three of us light the Advent wreath each weekend and prepare to celebrate Christmas, this year it's much easier to tap into hope and gratitude. We're healthy when so many are not. We're working harder than ever, when so many have been left jobless since March. We're stable and secure, when others are wondering where the next meal is going to come from.

Hope is around the corner—we all can feel it. God so loved the world. God loves us so much that in dreaming of how to dispel the darkness, becomes Emmanuel: one with us. This weekend during the Communion procession, we'll offer a Christ candle to each household to add to your Advent wreath or table. In addition to the warmth and light it will bring as we all light it together at our Christmas Masses, I hope you can feel the love St. Monica offers to each and every one of you. May Advent blessings continue to pour out.