As we begin to approach the great season when we celebrate the birth of the Christ-child among us, we may be tempted to look forward in anticipation. Only 22 more days until Christmas Eve! I can’t wait for that family party in two weeks! I am so excited to see my kids’ faces on Christmas morning! And while anticipation is not a bad thing in itself, today I invite you instead to take a look back.
Look back upon salvation history and see God’s hand working in each and every story. Recognize His love and mercy spilling forth as He creates the world, saves Noah from the flood and then makes a covenant with him, provides an heir for Abraham in his old age, saves Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, uses Joseph, sold as a slave, to feed his flock during a time of famine, guides his people out of Egyptian slavery through His servant Moses, forgives King David of his grave sins and still considers him a man after His own heart, and sends prophets before Him to prepare our hearts for His coming.
Sure, we could look back and see nothing but unrest, famine, sinfulness and broken covenants. We could get frustrated that things seemed to take so long, I mean 40 years wandering around in the desert… really? We could point out how many people had to die in the countless wars and how much Job had to suffer. We could go on and on, but that would defeat the purpose. What God wants is to open our eyes to this long line of events leading up to something more incredible than we could ever imagine, the birth of His only Son, the Savior of all mankind.
We may be tempted to do the same thing in our own lives, look back with negativity and regret at our shortcomings, but I prefer to look back in a similarly positive way, recognizing the hand of God throughout my life. That heartwrenching job loss that my husband experienced? It resulted in us moving back to Michigan and closer to family. That horrible pandemic that we suffered through? It allowed us to find a lovely home with a big yard in a quiet town. That devastating rental venture that went awry and forced us to sell the house? It afforded us a new vehicle and a low monthly mortgage. That frightening car accident we got into? The insurance payout covered most of our bill when our AC broke during a hot summer. In other words, God’s got it. He’s always got it.
After having looked back at all of God’s blessings in our life up to this point, may our Advent theme be one of praise and thanksgiving. As the first reading states, may our “delight [] be the fear of the Lord.” May we echo the words of the Psalm: “May his name be blessed forever; as long as the sun his name shall remain.” May we repeat often the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel: “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.”
Al acercarnos a la gran época en que celebramos el nacimiento del niño Jesús entre nosotros, quizá nos sintamos tentados a mirar hacia adelante con ilusión. ¡Solo faltan 22 días para la Nochebuena! ¡No puedo esperar para la fiesta familiar dentro de dos semanas! ¡Me emociona tanto pensar en ver las caras de mis hijos la mañana de Navidad! Y aunque la ilusión no es mala en sí misma, hoy los invito a mirar hacia atrás.
Repasen la historia de la salvación y vean la mano de Dios obrando en cada una de ellas. Reconozcamos su amor y misericordia derramándose al crear el mundo, salvar a Noé del diluvio y luego hacer una alianza con él, proveer un heredero para Abraham en su vejez, salvar a Lot y su familia de la destrucción de Sodoma y Gomorra, usar a José, vendido como esclavo, para alimentar a su rebaño durante una época de hambruna, guiar a su pueblo para liberarlo de la esclavitud egipcia a través de su siervo Moisés, perdonar al rey David de sus graves pecados y aún considerarlo un hombre tras su corazón, y enviar profetas delante de él para preparar nuestros corazones para su venida.
Claro, podríamos mirar atrás y solo ver inquietud, hambruna, pecado y alianzas rotas. Podríamos frustrarnos porque las cosas parecen haber tomado tanto tiempo, o sea, 40 años vagando por el desierto… ¿de verdad? Podríamos señalar cuánta gente tuvo que morir en las innumerables guerras y cuánto tuvo que sufrir Job. Podríamos seguir y seguir, pero ese no es el propósito. Lo que Dios quiere es abrirnos los ojos a esta larga serie de eventos que nos llevaron a algo más increíble de lo que jamás pudiéramos imaginar: el nacimiento de su único Hijo, el Salvador de toda la humanidad.
Quizás nos sintamos tentados a hacer lo mismo en nuestras propias vidas, a mirar atrás con negatividad y arrepentimiento por nuestras faltas, pero yo prefiero mirar atrás con una actitud igualmente positiva, reconociendo la mano de Dios a lo largo de mi vida. ¿Esa desgarradora pérdida de trabajo que experimentó mi esposo? Nos obligó a regresar a Michigan y pudimos estar más cerca de la familia. ¿Esa horrible pandemia que sufrimos? Nos permitió encontrar una hermosa casa con un gran jardín en un pueblo tranquilo. ¿Aquel devastador negocio de alquiler que salió mal y nos obligó a vender la casa? Nos permitió comprar un vehículo nuevo y tener una hipoteca mensual baja. ¿Aquel aterrador choque de carro que vivimos? El seguro cubrió la mayor parte de nuestra factura cuando se rompió el aire acondicionado de la casa durante un verano caluroso. En otras palabras, Dios lo tiene todo. Siempre lo tiene todo.
Tras recordar todas las bendiciones de Dios en nuestra vida hasta este momento, que nuestro tema de Adviento sea la alabanza y la acción de gracias. Como dice la primera lectura, que nuestro deleite sea en que “está lleno el país de la ciencia del Señor”. Hagamos eco de las palabras del Salmo: “Que bendigan al Señor eternamente y tanto como el sol, viva su nombre”. Repitamos con frecuencia las palabras de Jesús en el Evangelio de hoy: “¡Yo te alabo, Padre, Señor del cielo y de la tierra”!
Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adulthood she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a contributing writer on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net.
Feature Image Credit: Tim Foster, unsplash.com/photos/person-holding-black-ski-pole-between-green-pine-trees-covered-with-snow-during-daytime-B755xFDEOpI
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