O Wisdom ~ O Antiphons – Father Bob's Reflections

Wednesday of the third week o f Advent

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,

reaching from one end to the other,

mightily and sweetly ordering all things:

Come and teach us the way of prudence.

~ O Antiphons

One of the major themes of Advent I promised I would talk about is “waiting.”

The Jewish people are waiting for the Messiah. We are waiting for the return of Christ.

Some expect him “soon and very soon.”

(As for me, I don’t worry my lil head about the rapture and stuff or anything apocalyptic ’cause we ain’t gonna know the answer anyway! Jesus doesn’t even know, only the Father.)

Every one of us is longing ~ yearning for something — Someone.

What — or Who — are YOU waiting for?

– for Godot?

– to be accepted into college?

– a new job?

– your son to come home from serving in the military?

– to win the lottery?

– someone to fill your loneliness?

– for news that your biopsy is benign?

– to get home after being stuck in rush hour traffic and bad day at work?

– a letter that never comes?

There are all kinds of things we have to wait for.

Advent is about learning how to use “waiting time” well.

We can wait patiently or impatiently.

Some people want “fast access DSL” to be even faster.

But I have learned that slower is better.

When we’re waiting in line or in the doctor’s office — especially during Advent — we can go inside ourselves. Quiet our mind. Just focus on our breathing for a while or say a decade of the rosary.

REAL LIFE happens when we’re waiting for something else to happen.

Real life happens between here and there.

But we have to be ready. Open. Ready to hear God speak to us in the murmured wisdom of a three-year-old.

Ready to see the evidence of God’s presence when you walk out the door in the morning.

– or even to see God in a baby in a manger.

Ready and waiting for Jesus to come to us in a new way this Christmas.

Yes, life happens WHILE we’re waiting.

When we’re not in any particular hurry.

When we’re ready to respond to whomever wants or needs our attention at the moment

– one of your children or perhaps a stranger at the checkout counter at the corner grocery store.

That’s what a real Christmas is all about!

That’s what a spiritual life is all about whether you are Catholic or Hebrew or Muslim or Buddhist or a non-believer.

But the most important waiting that we try to learn during the Advent season is to wait for the Lord.

Having enough faith to wait for God to act in our life on God’s time — not ours.

So, Advent is about learning patience.

It’s also about longing for something – Someone more.

About realizing as St. Augustine said:

“Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, my God!“

Finally, dear friends, I share with you a song I’ve always loved from West Side Story because it captures so well the excitement / the anticipation/ the hope / the yearning / striving / hungering / the thirsting / the DESIRE of the human race for something MORE! Someone NEW to break into our life and turn us upside down.

Click here > > > “Something’s Coming!” sung by Tony in West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein — a YouTube presentation. Turn up your speakers and enter full screen. Christmas is one week away.

Have a great day!

With love,

Bob Traupman

contemplative writer

Tuesday of the Fourth week o f Advent

“O Wisdom, O holy Word of God,

you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care.

Come and show your people the way to salvation.”

~ O Antiphons

The Jewish people are waiting for the Messiah.

We wish our Jewish neighbors well as they begin their Hanukah celebration this evening.

We are waiting for the return of Christ. Some expect him “soon and very soon.”

Every single one of us is longing for something — Someone.

What — or Who — are YOU waiting for?

– for Godot?

– to be accepted into college?

– a new job?

– your son to come home from Afghanistan?

– to win the lottery?

– someone to fill your loneliness?

– for news that your biopsy is benign?

– to get home after being stuck in rush hour traffic and bad day at work?

– a letter that never comes?

There are all kinds of things we have to wait for.

Advent is about learning how to use “waiting time” well.

We can wait patiently or impatiently.

Some people want “fast access DSL” to be even faster.

But I have learned that slower is better.

When we’re waiting in line or in the doctor’s office — especially during Advent — we can go inside ourselves. Quiet our mind. Just focus on our breathing for a while or say a decade of the rosary.

Real life happens when we’re waiting for something else to happen.

Life happens between here and there.

But we have to be ready. Open. Ready to hear God speak to us in the murmured Wisdom of a three-year-old.

Ready to see the evidence of God’s presence when you walk out the door in the morning.

– or even to see God in a baby in manger.

Ready and waiting for Jesus to come to us in a new way this Christmas.

Yes, life happens WHILE we’re waiting.

When we’re not in any particular hurry.

When we’re ready to respond to whomever wants or needs our attention at the moment

– one of your children or perhaps a even a stranger at the checkout counter at the corner grocery store.

That’s what a real Christmas is all about!

That’s what a spiritual life is all about whether you are Catholic or Hebrew or Muslim or Buddhist or non-believer.

But the most important waiting that we try to learn during the Advent season is to wait for the Lord.

Having enough faith to wait for God to act in our life on God’s time — not ours.

So, Advent is about learning patience.

It’s also about longing for something –Someone more.

About realizing as St. Augustine said:

“Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, my God!“

Finally, dear friends, I share with you a song I’ve always loved from West Side Story because it captures so well the excitement / the anticipation/ the hope / the yearning / striving / hungering / the thirsting / the DESIRE of the human race for something MORE! Someone NEW to break into our life and turn us upside down.

“Something’s Coming!” sung by Tony in West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein — a YouTube presentation. Turn up your speakers and enter full screen. Christmas is 4 days away.

Have a great day!

With love,

Bob Traupman

contemplative writer