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Advent Reflection

‘Present’ of ‘Presence’

“Beloved: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all…..”
(1 Thessalonians 3:12) Reading from 1st Sunday in Advent

God sent a ‘present’ into the world, the gift of a loving presence named Jesus. The Gospel stories indicate that Jesus gave few material things to people. What he gave most was his personal presence, gifts that were treasures of the heart: belief in self, inner healing, peace of mind, compassion, forgiveness, dignity, and justice. This loving presence lives on in us and is the central focus of Christmas gift-giving.

The following are suggestions for “being with” others during Advent, one for each of the twenty-five days before Christmas. We may think of other ways to share our presence in order to deliberately choose “being” over “doing.” When the feast of Christmas arrives may we be more aware of the power of Emmanuel’s presence within us and our ability to warm the lives of others because of this Gift of Love.

Suggestions for Giving the Present of Presence

Be physically present with another or present “in spirit” by deliberately sending prayer, compassionate thoughts, and kind feelings toward another person or group.

• Be with someone who needs you. Be with a person who gives you hope.
• Be with those who live in terror and fear. Be with an older person.
• Be with someone who has helped you to grow. Be with one who is in pain. Be with someone who grieves.
• Be with a war-torn country. Be with yourself. Be with someone who has written to you. Be with a child, be with a youth.
• Be with a refugee who is fleeing from harm. Be with an enemy or someone you dislike.
• Be with a farmer losing his or her land. Be with someone who has terminal/chronic illness.
• Be with the homeless. Be with those who suffer from substance abuse or addiction.
• Be with hungry children. Be with a co-worker. Be with those whose hope is faint. Be with world leaders. Be with someone in your family. Be with men and women in prison.
• Be with someone working for justice. Be with those who are abused and neglected. Be with your loved ones. Be with someone who is alone.