Waiting on the World to Change

It’s so easy to complain about this year. But look at any time and you can find the signs of the end times: natural disasters, corrupt leaders, war, violence, disease, poverty, loneliness. The world always has suffering. And when you’re in the middle of it, it seems like it will never end. The pain will never go away. The victim will never see justice. The dawn will never come.

Hope is the tiny light in the night, promising that good will prevail in the end. The wait might be long, but victory is just ahead. We are to prepare and hold on through night.

The presents are wrapped. We wait for Christmas.

The votes are counted. We wait for inauguration.

The vaccine is ready. We wait for immunization.

The laws are written. We wait for justice.

The lamps are filled with oil. We wait for the bridegroom.

The prophecy is fulfilled. We wait for the Messiah’s return.

Advent is about being in the present while looking to the future. There is hope, resolution, salvation. But not yet. But the assurance and the anticipation keep us going through the dark nights. God has made a promise to us. All will be well.

St. Emma of Lesum

St. Emma (also known as Hemma) was born in what is now Bremen, Germany in the late 10th century to the Immedinger family, a noble Saxon family who fought against Charlemagne. She married a Saxon duke and they had one son, who would go on to be bishop of Paderborn. 

It was said that she had a violent temper when she was young.  But in 1011, Emma’s husband travelled to Russia, where he fell ill and eventually died. Following his death, Emma grew in her faith. She donated to several churches including the Bremen Cathedral and established new parishes. She became known for her charity to the poor.

Following in her death in 1038 she was buried in the cathedral. It was later discovered that her body had decayed except for her intact right hand—the hand used to give her gifts and charity.

Her feast day is December 3.