We are in the beautiful season of Advent which reminds us that God needed to intervene to redeem the world. Jesus did not come merely to be useful; He came to be precious, so we could treasure Him. He did not come to give us bread, but to be the Bread. His invitation, “Come to Me” literally means, “I will not drive you away.”
Jesus is constantly in our boat, especially when we face life’s storms. He is Emmanuel, God with us. When we gaze at the outstretched arms of the babe in the manger, how do we truly see Him? As Messiah? Savior? Redeemer? Or simply as a friend and miracle worker? Our hearts, like those of the lowly shepherds and wise men, must seek God, not search for God like Herod or the Pharisees.
Advent and God’s Unconditional Love
During Advent, God breaks into our hurting world to remind us that He seeks, finds, forgives, and loves us. His love is not conditional upon our sudden transformation; it is constant and unconditional. God does not reserve mercy for certain people at certain times, He offers it to all, always.
Jesus walks up to every sinner and invites them to follow Him. The world may say, “God’s standards of mercy are so high they’re unattainable,” but we know better. There is no perfect Christian; to follow Christ is not to achieve perfect practices, but to embrace His path. Hence, all Christians are offered forgiveness. Jesus befriended sinners at their point of need, think of Zacchaeus or the Samaritan woman at the well. He does the same for each of us.
Advent reminds us of our value in God’s eyes. We are precious to Him, even when we are abandoned or judged by others.
Breaking Bread and Building Community
Advent challenges us to ask: Who do we break bread with? God calls us to sit with all kinds of people, allowing the impossible to become possible. Today’s culture of self-focus fosters isolation, much like the Pharisees, who separated themselves in pursuit of ceremonial purity. Jesus’ inclusive approach offended them, for He sought out sinners to save them rather than merely mourn over them.
The call today is similar: we are called to be seekers of the lost, to extend mercy instead of judgment, and to foster inclusion. Pope Francis reminds us that “the Church is called to be a field hospital of mercy.” Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ, urges us to embrace radical kinship: “You don’t go to the margins to make a difference. Then it’s about you. But you go to the margins so that the folks at the margins make you different. Then it’s about us. The goal is to create a community of kinship such that God might recognize it, where there is no ‘us’ and ‘them,’ only ‘us.’”
Advent helps us remember that our community is a new one, defined by love, the measure of which is Jesus and the benchmark of which is the Cross.
Faith Over Fear
Often, we are ruled by fear rather than faith. Fear distorts reality, focusing our attention on problems and forgetting that God is bigger than any challenge. Our past may be imperfect, our present tense, and our future uncertain, but Christmas assures us that with Jesus, our future is perfect.
When faith grows, we learn that Jesus focuses on us first and addresses our circumstances in His timing. If this Advent you feel persecuted, overlooked, or forgotten, draw strength from Luke 12:1-7, a powerful counter-narrative to fear. God honors us in His heart; we need only lean into faith.
A Call to Daily Gratitude and Mercy
Life is fragile. One accident, one diagnosis, or one unexpected phone call can change everything. What once seemed certain can vanish like smoke. Advent calls us to cultivate constant gratitude and to practice humility, kindness, forgiveness, and mercy.
As we approach Christmas, let us:
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Stay humble and soft-hearted
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Speak kindness a little louder
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Forgive a little quicker
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Judge a little less
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Show a whole lot of mercy
In doing so, we prepare ourselves to receive our Savior into our hearts this Christmas.
