What Are We Waiting For?

Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent, this great new year in the Church, and wonderful season of Christmas. We talk a lot about waiting during this season, and when I think about this, I see all the little children willing themselves closer to Christmas Day and all the presents they hope to receive. Yet, this morning, as I was at my oncology appointment, I saw a different kind of waiting. By the time I left the exam room, and passed through the lobby and reception area, it was filled with patients and their loved ones - waiting, all of them, for.....what? I stopped there and looked out at them, bundled up, many with hats to cover their once hairy heads, and wondered what each of them were waiting for. I said a quick prayer for all of them that their wait, however, short, long, hopeful, or painful, would yield a love and a joy like no other - and a hopefulness to fill Heaven and earth.