Fr. Nnamdi Moneme: Foster Your Desire for Christ in Advent

I once informed my mother that I would be coming home from college at a particular date. Being the crazy college student that I was then, I changed my mind and returned home a day later without informing her of the change. I never thought it was a big deal until I learned later that she had taken time off from work on the day I was expected to return just to prepare my favorite meal for me. She also did not sleep that night as she kept waiting and listening for me to arrive at the house. I really felt bad about my behavior and I learned to communicate my plans better.  

But her sleepless vigil for my return and her preparing my favorite meal taught me that waiting or watching for someone always was not something that was done automatically. Before we can wait for someone without becoming weary, we must have a deep love for the person always. Secondly, we must be ready to do and to endure things that would please the person. When these two conditions are met, we have an intense desire for that person and this is what makes us watch and wait for the person always. We just cannot wait for someone endlessly if we do not have this intense desire for that person.  …