He Is Coming

28. November 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Reflections

Losing Christ somewhere along the way

It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to realize that Christmas is fast approaching. The signs appear each year, earlier and earlier, with a breathtaking sense of urgency. Hurry, hurry, hurry, shop, shop, shop. We are inundated with messages from voices that plead, cajole, and insist that we purchase on layaway, buy now and ship early because there is absolutely no time to waste. We just passed through a grueling year of seemingly never-ending campaign robo-calls, television ads, and campaign literature in our mailboxes and on our doorknobs. And now we have to endure … Christmas.

Is it any wonder that many are tired of it before it even begins? Maybe we should just forget about it; just relax, take a deep breath, and laugh at all those who are frantically pursuing the latest and greatest, in the meager hope that this will truly be the best one ever. Who needs it, anyway?

But wait … wait … wait … wait. Waiting is really hard to do, isn’t it?

Now stop. Sit down. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Now, take another one. Let all the clamoring voices of the world go away.

Center your thoughts on these three words: “He Is Coming.” He will arrive at the proper time; He will not be rushed or hurried.  As with all births, his arrival requires a period of gestation, a time of waiting, a time of growth and maturation. The miracle of life takes time and patient waiting.  Give yourself over to the waiting; keep saying “He Is Coming.”

How easy it is to forget Christmas, to shove its true meaning aside, to revel in the hustle and bustle of the season, losing Christ somewhere along the way. We forget who is coming. We have lost the ability to wait patiently for the proper time. We want it now, we need it now, and we must have it now, right now. We have, somewhere along the way, lost Christ.

Christ will come, soon, very soon. We know that his birth will herald a new birth for the entire world. He comes so that we can be saved. He is coming so that we can see God. He is coming to proclaim salvation for all mankind. But He is coming at the time of His choosing, when the world is ready to receive Him. Until that time, we must wait … wait … wait. Be patient and wait. Quiet yourself, close your eyes, take a deep breath and keep saying: He Is Coming … He is Coming … He is Coming. Now that isn’t so difficult to do, is it?

About the author: Deacon Chuck

Deacon Chuck was ordained into the permanent diaconate on September 17, 2011, in the ministry of service to the Diocese of Reno and assigned to St. Albert the Great Catholic Community. He currently serves as the parish bulletin editor and website administrator. Deacon Chuck continues to serve the parish of Saint Albert the Great Catholic Community of the Diocese of Reno, Nevada. He is the Director of Adult Faith Formation and Homebound Ministries for the parish, conducts frequent adult faith formation workshops, and is a regular homilist. He currently serves as the bulletin editor for the parish bulletin. He writes a weekly column intended to encompass a broad landscape of thoughts and ideas on matters of theology, faith, morals, teachings of the magisterium and the Catholic Church; they are meant to illuminate, illustrate, and catechize the readers and now number more than 230 articles. His latest endeavor is "Colloqui: A journal for restless minds", a weekly journal of about 8 pages similar in content to bulletin reflections. All his reflections, homilies, commentaries, and Colloqui are posted and can be found on his website: http://deaconscorner.org. Comments are always welcome and appreciated. He is the author of two books: "The Voices of God: hearing God in the silence" which offers the reader insights into how to hear God’s voice through all of the noise that surrounds us; and "Echoes of Love: Effervescent Memories" which through a combination of prose and verse provides the reader with a wonderful journey on the way to discovering forever love. He regularly speaks to groups of all ages and size and would welcome the opportunity to speak to your group.

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