Feasts,
Seasons, Sacraments
Walk in the expectation
of starlight
Here’s an Advent tale
for those who look to the holidays ahead and cringe because they fear
it’s all too overwhelming.
A cloistered nun stands
on a deserted hill, staring with wonder into the night sky.
I know this nun. She’s
my friend, Sheryl Chen, a Trappistine monk who lives in cloister with
other women committed to a life of silence, stability, and contemplative
prayer. She entered the Trappistines at Santa Rita Abbey in the desert
of Arizona, near the Mexican border. Their day begins at 3 a.m. with
prayer. One December morning before early prayer, Sister Sheryl went
out to do one of her chores. In the stillness of the night, she cast
her gaze into the diamond sky. One bright star among thousands caught
her eye this early Advent morning and she wondered, "How is it
that a lowly nun, by chance wandering this desert hillside on a cold,
clear night, is met by the light of this distant star?"
Being one of the brightest
people I know, Sheryl of course began to calculate the vast distance
of that star and how long it would take its light to reach this very
spot of hillside where she stood, her face in starlight. And, being
one of the holiest people I know, Sheryl began to reflect how much
like God’s love that starlight was: traveling vast distances
to greet her this Advent morning, in this time and place, just as
she was.
I think we can take a
lesson from Sister Sheryl. Let’s walk in confidence, in the expectation
of starlight. Let us walk toward what we fear, certain that even now,
God’s love is on its way to meet us in our hour of need. That’s
the message of Advent–light shining through darkness, hope overcoming
despair. May you and your family know the light of Christmas this
season and throughout the year.
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