More on Advent

In the midst of confusions and controversies in our socio-political world these words of Jesus in today's Gospel come like a whiff of fresh breeze: "Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest".

It is Advent and Christmas is only eleven days away. Yet the fever of unrest is still hot on our brow. In the capital city, multisectoral groups including the reputedly naïve CBCP, are flexing their muscle for a big rally on Sunday. Our lawmakers are split in two irreconcilable groups as they try to defend their stand for or against charter change. Here in Cebu the sense of frustration on the failed Summit is still heavy in the heart among its champions, while the Church is cringing with self-guilt as media cries for blood for alleged harassment of students. These, while thousands are still licking their storm-inflicted wounds as they try to survive hunger and cold and hopelessness in certain parts of the country.

Indeed, 2006 could be one of the most turbulent years in the country. Mass actions after mass actions had been a continuing phenomenon as the opposition tried to destabilize the social order. Insurgent groups reasserted their cause with armed encounters, while down south the Abu Sayyaf kept its terror sorties unabated.

As the year draws to a close there ought to be a slowing down of anxiety and strife. The rage of the year should have passed. Like the rage of Reming and Seniang, it is already yesterday's event, and the sun is up and about. Our societal rages too ought to cool down despite frustrations with those who govern, despite disgust with ourselves for our own lapses and weaknesses. Are we so tightly tied with temporal concerns that even the thought of Advent and the Nativity can't make us pause in silence to reflect where we are heading for?

The hour is late. The boat is quietly gliding toward the misted port. The joust with the wind and the waves is over. Home are the travelers weary and exhausted. Home are the wanderers with strange wishes. But will there be peace ashore? There won't be unless we heed the Lord's invitation to rest in Him.

For Advent calls us to prepare for God coming. It is a time of waiting, a period of great expectation. As we wait, we are expected to clear the footpath for the Sacred Feet, to trim the weeds and level the ground. This of course is a figurative way of saying that in the season of waiting every man who believes in Jesus owes it to himself to cleanse his conscience from the sludge of sin. For the One whose nativity is remembered will come to every one of us only if our inner self is clean and if goodwill dwells therein.

Advent therefore calls for reflection and prayer. What have I been searching for? Why am so obsessed with name and fame and possession? Where do I stand on God's call for holiness? The answers to these will fashion our state of mind as we look forward to the Lord's coming. Whether we would be at peace or be restless depends upon who we are as believers of Christ. If we are good then Advent would be a mellowing experience characterized by humility and quiet joy. There is a total surrendering of self to life's unfolding events no matter how unpleasant because deep down in us lurks our trust in the Lord. All things work for the good to those who trust in Him - words from the Good Book leaping alive in the fringes of our consciousness. And this too: "I have come to give you life and have it abundantly!" What assurances, what a caveat for a Christ-centered faith! Unless we are deaf or are weighed down with a hardness of heart we cannot afford to be unmoved by these words. For indeed, did He not say that the world may pass away but not his words?

As children of God we should be overwhelmed with the joy of his coming. Millennium after millennium came and went as man waited for the big moment. The prophets were loud in their voices as they foretold God's promised visitation. But man was deaf and unresponsive. Darkness was in his heart and iniquity was this ways. Then in the midst of sin and error, the Light burst forth. Bethlehem came to be and life was never the same for man.

Advent and activism - they come in tandem in our lives. But the cares and confusion there are should not dishearten us. Sometime, somewhere peace and joy wait for those who persevere.

* * *

Email: [email protected]