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Every day is getting shorter. Sunlight, or any kind of light, is visible for less than 12 hours these days. We haven’t even reached the Winter Solstice yet, when our little piece of the world will be lit for a mere eight hours. We are plunged, not by choice but by force, into darkness. It is in this dark space place where we are asked to wait – wait for the birth of God.
Each year, we celebrate the Season of Advent during the darkest of times. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who is not a little bit afraid of darkness. Even the bravest among us, given the right circumstances, will fear the dark. Because for most of us, darkness takes on a menacing figure, sitting just outside of our grasp, waiting to encroach and swallow us whole. That’s how we feel about darkness. And yet, the Season of Advent, dark as it may be, possesses the promise of everything that stands in opposition to that.
The Church begins her new year when the days are getting darker, not lighter. Ask any expectant mother if she wants her baby to come early and she will say no, no she does not. As badly as her back hurts, as long as it has been since she has last seen her toes, she is willing to wait because the baby is not yet ready. There is still more time to be had, more growth needed, deep inside where that baby sits in darkness.
The Church waits like this during Advent. We wait because the baby is not yet ready, which means that we are not yet ready either. Just like the infant, there is still more time to be had, more growth needed, deep inside where we all sit in darkness.
Meditating through this darkness, sitting here, waiting here, praying here, we discover that darkness does not come from a different place than light. Darkness is not lorded over by any different God. The long, dark nights of Advent point us toward God, just as the bright light of Easter morning points us there. The promise of new life, of extraordinary joy, of God’s own self, is on its way.
-Fr. Ross
On November 12th we celebrated the Rite of Acceptance with SAU students Jadie Knecht and Maddie Palanos. Their sponsors, Josie Mork and Carson Abramson, presented them to our faith community. During the celebration, we promised to support them with our prayers as they continue preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Jadie and Maddie meet weekly with their sponsors and our initiation team to reflect on the Sunday Scriptures proclaimed at Mass and to learn about the Catholic faith and way of life.
If you are interested in learning more about joining the Catholic Church, please contact us at ministry@sau.edu.
Looking for an organization to support during Bee the Difference Month? Contact Nicky Gant, Service & Justice Coordinator at gantnicole@sau.edu or 563-333-6071, or see attached pdf for a list of non-profit organizations near campus, who are in need of volunteers.
