REFLECTION:



Last Sunday, in my homily for Gaudete Sunday, I spoke about leisure and Sunday as a day of rest. Leisure is not about doing nothing for the sake of inactivity; rather, it is a sacred pause that allows us to contemplate God, ourselves, and the world around us. This contemplation should lead us to know God more deeply — and what we discover is that our God desires to be near us. He is not distant. He is Emmanuel — God with us.

This longing for nearness is at the heart of the prophet Zephaniah. The problem God names is not a lack of religious activity, but a lack of relationship: “In the LORD she has not trusted; to her God she has not drawn near” (Zeph 3:2). The people were busy, distracted, and self-reliant — much like we often are — going through the motions while slowly drifting away from God.

As we draw closer to Christmas, we become very good at counting the days… then the hours… then even the seconds until the celebration arrives. But Advent invites us to ask a deeper question: as Christmas draws near, have we drawn closer to God? Or have we allowed ourselves to remain busy with everything else?

The truth is this: God is always walking toward us, always making the first move. From the prophets, to the manger, to the Cross, God continually comes closer. Yet so often, we walk away — not out of malice, but out of distraction.

Zephaniah reminds us that God never stops seeking us. He promises a humble people who “trust in the name of the LORD” (Zeph 3:12), a people who rest securely in His presence. Advent is our invitation to become that people — to slow down, to make room, and to turn back toward the God who has never stopped coming toward us.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Emmanuel, may our waiting be prayerful, our rest intentional, and our hearts ready — so that when God draws near, He finds us already walking toward Him.