The longing of Advent

“…how steadfastly our Lord waits for us with unchanging demeanor, for he wants us to turn to him and be united to him in love as he is to us.” (Ch 78)

Advent is a time for us to reflect on the four last things, but also to long for God and God’s coming, with the same desire that God longs for us. Julian speaks several times in her Revelations of Christ’s and of God’s spiritual thirst for us: “a love-longing to have us all together wholly in him to his delight” which longing will last as long as we are in need, until Judgement Day. (ch 31, 63)

God waits for us, longs for us, “with unchanging demeanor,” always ready to welcome us with the same love. We may bring God our fear, apathy, cowardice; God is put off by nothing. God is longing for us just as we are.

As we pray in our Advent litany, we are to wait for Christ diligently and do all we can to prepare for him. How do we prepare? It is enough to feed our longing for God.

To wait for Christ mercifully and so recognize him when he comes; to wait for him repentantly and be able to receive his mercy. To accept our fears, reluctance, apathy, cowardice, to accept our failings and weariness. None of this will prevent God, and our truthful acceptance of it may be the best preparation we can offer.

To readily turn our hearts to God’s longing, to own the great longing God has placed in our hearts, and to have the courage to dare to hunger for God with our whole being.