Advent calls those with a vocation to believe

The God who wants to be with us is bewildering for quite a number of people. Yet the incarnation is for us who grasp it, a richness, the fullness of which we never fully comprehend, but grow to reverently pray with and reflect on, slowly appreciating what a small part of this immense truth we have access to.

Jesus born in Bethlehem — an infant totally vulnerable and needful is God coming to be with us. Jesus willingly embracing the condition of depending on others when most people try to do all they can to escape needing to depend on anyone. Becoming as we are in all things but sin, Jesus is revealing divine love offered unreservedly — even where it is not “deserved”.

That God comes to and for sinners, those who have not behaved perfectly, boggles the mind. Yet God comes to save us when we may not have any awareness of our need for saving, bringing us to comprehend this isn’t being welcomed into an exclusive club, but rather initiates into the group working for extending this work of Jesus as far as it possibly can be extended.

Advent calls those of us who have a vocation to believe — to live in faith — to be an active part in bringing about the kingdom of love the child born in such humble surroundings knows how very much we need.