Is Advent the season God seeks His lost children?

A wise priest once told me that Advent is the season God looks for His lost children.  I wasn’t sure what this meant, but the more I thought about it, I think he made sense.

 Imagine that God is sitting on His chair gazing over His church during this Advent season.  While watching the throngs of people preparing to celebrate Christmas, He spots Bob Smith and thinks: “I haven’t seen or heard from Bob in quite a while.” You know he is still on my nice list. Then God said, “I think I’ll send him an email and remind him that the promise I made is still good.”

 God continues, “I promised him and all my creation a savior, my Son Jesus, to help him get to heaven when his time on earth is finished. Here he’ll live with me in my divine household.”

 God continues and ponders saying, “I hope he remembers his part of our agreement. Bob has to accept Jesus as my Son and Savior, and then do what He says.  Then, Jesus says: “It’s quite simple: such as treating others as I treat him and forgiving others as often as I forgive him.” Jesus pauses and says: “Which is as often as he needs it!”

 The Father stares into space and says: “I can’t remember all the second chances I gave Bob, but I’ll give him as many as he needs.  Because I’m determined to get him into heaven.”  Ever since the catastrophe in the garden, the Father doesn’t want any of His creation left out.

 The Father adds: “One thing I always did for Bob was answer his prayers, not in the way he wanted, but always in the way he needed.”

 While the Father speaks, we are remembering that every Christmas is a sign of God’s faithfulness.  He promised a messiah to help us navigate through deserts and the many dark clouds of our own making.  This is why Advent is more about rejoicing than gloom.  Advent tells the tale of God’s generosity and gracious love despite our erratic responses.

 During Advent, the Father is working constantly hoping that we choose heaven, not because we fear hell, but because God’s love and support is alive all around us.  We have a God who has everything and still wants us.

 The Father says, “Bob Smith can have all this by simply saying, I’m yours, and then adding these words from John the Baptist: ‘Even though I am not worthy to untie His sandals.’” The Father is secretly hoping that Bob does not delay between his good intentions and his good deeds.

 God gives us free will to choose.  He doesn’t force us to choose.  He simply leads us gently.  In the end we have to say-- “Yes!”  Since we are the only items on God’s Christmas list, be the lost child God is seeking this year and choose Him.  If we do, God will surely love having a joyful Christmas and sharing it with you!