Waiting to Go Fast

As we begin a new liturgical year, the “Collect” or opening prayer for the First Sunday of Advent is worth reflecting upon:

“Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom.”

At first glance it’s a bit odd to be talking about running towards something when we know Advent is a season of patient anticipation. However, looking more closely, we’re asking for the resolve to run to meet Christ when he comes. Recalling the three comings of St Bernard highlighted in last week’s article, the comings in this prayer refer both to the invisible ones in our current in-between middle period, as well as the third and final coming.

Resolve is defined as a “firm determination to do something.” All this talk of preparing and waiting, but what does that mean? It means getting ourselves into the mindset that whenever and wherever the presence of Christ is revealed, even when it pops up in a direction we weren’t expecting to head, we aren’t indecisive or slow: We run towards that light. Advent isn’t just preparing us for Christmas, but a check-in and reset on our mentality as disciples year-round. What a perfect prayer to begin the first liturgy of the new year!