Five Advent Meditations on Waiting

By Wendy J. Miller, professor of spiritual formation, and creator of SoulSpace, EMU's online spiritual guide

Waiting with Emptiness with Elizabeth...

Luke 1.5—7,24,25,39—66

For long, long years Elizabeth had been obedient
but remained barren.
Now she is elderly, but shamed by her neighbors
because she is without child.
The lonely hours and days carve deep spaces in
her soul. Not allowing anger and bitterness to trap her heart, Elizabeth learns to sit in the pain of that space, and thus the table of compassion and hospitality is spread within her.
When God answers her prayers, her solitude
blossoms into a safe space—
for Zechariah and his silence,
for the new life within Elizabeth
for Mary, a young woman needing refuge,
for her neighbors, and the forming of community
as they celebrate together the naming of John.

Reflection

What emptiness do you bring into this quiet space? Feel welcomed, safe, heard. Who are the Elizabeths who are helping you to recognize and name the sign of God within you?

Holy Spirit,
Spirit of the Living God,
you breathe in us
on all that is inadequate and fragile.
You make living water spring even
from our hurts themselves.
And through you, the valley of tears
becomes a place of wellsprings.

(From LIFE FROM WITHIN, Taize)

Waiting in Silence with Zechariah...

Luke 1.1—25, 57—79

Zechariah was born into a family of priests whose family tree was rooted in soil 1200 years old, and whose tap-root was Aaron, brother of Moses. Tradition had nurtured, pruned, and shaped his lot in life since birth; and his work as priest was scheduled by lot.

When his lot came, Zechariah stood alone at the altar of incense in the holy place to pray for the people. But in his heart he carried another prayer--a longing he had voiced over and again. Somehow the pain of waiting had become dulled by doubt, and even though he said the words, his heart hid from the God who did not seem to listen . . . and so Zechariah was not ready for God’s answer--or the birth announcement Gabriel carried from God.

God leads his servant into silence—
a desert pregnant with the struggle of re-visioning--
learning to see as God sees;
embracing the birthing.

For Zechariah enters the silence as a priest who stands alone to speak to God for the people; but he emerges as a prophet who sits among the people of his community to speak for God.

Reflection

What is your lot in life? As you sit alone and listen, what are the longings of your heart? If God answered the prayer of your heart, what would you need to encounter and surrender within yourself?

I AM SILENT . . . AND EXPECTANT
How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given.
I would be silent now, Lord,
and expectant…
that I may receive the gift I need,
so I may become
the gift others need.

(Loder, GUERRILLAS OF GRACE)

Waiting for Guidance with Joseph...

Matthew.18—25; 2.13—15, 19—23

He was a carpenter, and able to read plans
for building ploughs, houses, carts.
And he was engaged to be married, and making
plans for the wedding, their house, and their life together.
But now Mary was pregnant . . . A SCANDAL
in the eyes of the town folk and the Law.
Joseph’s reason kept him on the side of the town and the Law; his goodness guarded her life, thus he decided to leave her quietly (because it wasn’t his child she was carrying).
Joseph was a good man, obedient to the Law until his obedience was shattered by a dream!
Now he wasn’t used to reading dreams--visions of the night which evaporate like mist in the clear light of day. Carpenter’s plans are concrete, square, touchable,
redictable.
The dream troubled his goodness,
his safety, his respectability:

THE SCANDEL WAS EMMANEL: GOD WITH US!
Joseph repented of his obedience to the Law, took Mary within his embrace, and with her, the Christ-child, JESUS. He thought he had embraced the unborn, but now his life is held and directed by the tiny child--

THE MIGHTY GOD, THE PRINCE OF PEACE…
Now he became a refugee, his life guided by dreams.
He thought he would build safe houses, but now he is protector of Mary and the child, a safe presence for God in the violent darkness of the world guided by dreams given by God.

Reflection

How are you allowing Jesus to embrace and direct your life? What risk is God calling you to embrace? Who is God for you as you respond to the dreams God has placed within you?

Christ,
Savior of all life,
you come to us always.
Welcoming you
In the silence of our days,
in the beauty of creation,
in the hours of great combat within,
is knowing that you will be with us in every situation, always.
in our nights, welcoming you . . .

(Taize)

Waiting in Servanthood with Mary...

Luke 1.26—40

A young woman, Mary, who lived in the village of Nazareth was engaged to a carpenter. He was not wealthy or well known, but Joseph was a good man.
She was preparing for the wedding—
and was engaged in hopes for home, family, security . . .
until the angel Gabriel knocked at her door.
“Peace be with you!” he says.
(What is God’s peace like, she
wonders. Why is my heart pounding so?)
“The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you. Don’t be afraid! You will conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”
(Jesus? in me? how?)
 

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you,”
And Mary replies:
“Yes, I am the Lord’s servant . . .

Her engagement to the carpenter and her hopes are all at risk as she journeys into the hills of Judah, to calm the pounding of her spirit in the house of Elizabeth. When we say, “Yes, Lord; I am your servant,” our lives will never be the same again. For Jesus will be born in us, his Spirit will overshadow us, and we will give birth to God’s Kingdom in the stable of this world.

Reflection

As you look back on your life, reflect on the Gabriel moments. What word did God speak to you? Who are the persons who have created safe space for you to speak and to explore the word, the birthing? Where is saying “Yes, Lord” taking you?

Lord,
I believe my life is touched by you, that you want something for me and of me.
Give me ears to hear you,
eyes to see the tracing of your finger, and a heart quickened by the motions of your Spirit.

(Loder)

Waiting for the Second Advent...

Matthew 24.3-14; Revelation 3.14-22

On a journey children will grow weary with waiting, and ask: “Are we there yet?” always looking for the trip to end. In our life journey, we sometimes forget God is making ready a healing home for us--
we get caught up in the troubles and
terrors in our global village
we become afraid of what people will say
about our trust in God’s hospitality
we are dulled into believing we have
arrived:

our riches keep us secure;
our houses, cars, and coordinated
furniture and fabrics keep us in
good graces with our neighbors;
medical care takes care of our
healing.
But we are far from home.
God comes in Jesus, now…
knocking at our life door, saying:
“If you open your door I will come in to make my home with you.”
“I will eat with you. And you will eat with me.”

Reflection

What tends to occupy your time and attention, to kidnap you out of being present for God? Listen now in the quiet; notice Jesus present, waiting for you to open your attention to him.

Gracious and Holy One, creator of all things and of emptiness, I open to you. I am full of so much that clutters and distracts, stifles and burdens me, and makes me a burden to others. Hollow out in me a space come and sit with me at table, I would eat your tender word, drink your Spirit, and be at home in your love.

(Adapted from “Empty me”, Loder)

These meditations are published in "Soul Care: How to Plan and Guide Inspirational Retreats."