The Orthodox call it the Nativity fast. Unlike the fast of Lent, which is a preparation for Holy Week, the nativity fast is one of joyful expectation. We need to find the antidote for the spirit in us that kills all sense of expectation. Advent should stand for our refusal to let pessimism get in the way. In the face of the brute reality hitting the world today, we need not only diagnosis but some form of cure. We need to be awake, cautious about what enters our hearts, while waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. We are being called to live in history with open eyes, to look deep into what is happening around us and to go beyond the conflicting claims and interpretations. The Gospel's invitation today is to stay awake.
