Editor's note: "An uncommon Advent: the arrival of a Savior in our lives" is a sampling of biblical meditations composed by members of the Concordia University Wisconsin community. It is our prayer that you will take time during the Advent season to read and reflect upon God's Word and await the coming of Jesus with newfound anticipation and zeal through the Holy Spirit.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5
Patience is not typically a word that fits the eager anticipation of Christmas. My husband tells stories of his childhood, when his parents (gleefully, he would add) prolonged his Christmas Day waiting until church was done, the meal prepared and eaten, the day drawn just about to its close, before finally—after almost interminable delay—the presents were unwrapped.
Christmas abounds with longing: for the gift given or desired, for the next activity or party or concert, for family to arrive after long travel, for the way it used to be in our own childhood.
What is the character of your longing? Do you long patiently oranxiously? Eagerly or irritably? In faithful hope or in hopelessness?
Certainly, longing occupies a central place in the Advent heart. We lightcandles; we worship; we pray, “Come, thou long expected Jesus.” For theBeliever, for you and for me, longing ought to take on a different shapeand tone from the generic jingle-jumpy sort on full display this season.
The psalmist writes, I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in hisword I put my hope (Psalm 130:5). God’s Word fulfills our longing andextends to us an invitation to practice uncommon waiting.
And so: we wait patiently; we wait in hope; we wait with uncommonstillness.
This little book of Advent meditations is a gift for you from your brothersand sisters at Concordia University to accompany you in the uncommonwaiting and encourage the reading and reflection of God’s Word thisseason. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, may you practice a gentle,quiet waiting this December. And in the waiting, may your longing heartknow Joy. Christ comes!
Gretchen Jameson
Senior Vice President of Strategy and University Affairs
View a full schedule of “An uncommon Advent” readings here.
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