Yes, faith is the foundation of my life — truly the greatest blessing God has given me. My Christian faith has been my strength and guide in good times -- it has also been my strength and guide and comfort in difficult times. Most of the time, however, I take this blessing for granted. Sadly, I do not adequately thank God for this gift. Fortunately there are special times each year when I realize anew the great blessing of faith. Advent is one of these times. Advent, my favorite liturgical season, evokes deeper religious sentiment in me than any other liturgical season, including Christmas and Easter. My heart resonates more fully with the Advent scripture readings than with readings from any other season. Old Testament passages that express humankind’s longing for a better world, for a messiah, for a savior, speak directly to my own restlessness and to my often unarticulated longing for a fuller coming of God to my heart and to our world. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” On this feast of St. Andrew the Apostle I am grateful for all the apostles, preachers, family and friends whose feet have brought the good news of the Gospel to me. “Faith comes from what is heard,” Paul reminds us. During this advent season I ask myself another question, Do I witness to what I have heard and believe? Can mine be the feet bringing the good news to others and the voice that is heard and that arouses faith in others: “Their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the end of the world”? During this season of giving, is there any greater gift I can share with loved ones? |