Advent is a good time to take stock. The old liturgical year is behind us; the birth of Christmas is yet to come. As has been pointed out time and again, Advent is an "inbetween" time, reminding us we live between the promise and the fulfillment. That feels about right.
Two Advent readings focus on John the Baptist, whose cry in the wilderness seems especially appropriate when nights are longer than days. Our lives echo his cry. We wait, listening in silence for a response. ...