Fr. Frank Majka, SJ – The Bridge

Desires in Advent

St. Augustine believed that life could be seen as a lifelong acting out of our fundamental desires.

If that is true, then the season of Advent can be when we reflect on our fundamental desires. We may think that we have many desires, but they may be rooted in one or two more basic ones.

For instance, a person who seems to be fixated on wealth or power may, underneath, be motivated by his or her desire to be secure and safe from the vagaries of life.

A person whose desire in life is to be perfect and without flaw or weakness
may, more basically, be desiring to be admired or loved.

Someone who desires to love others may be showing a deep desire to contribute to the health of the world and reach out to others in need.

Advent allows us the time and space to name and own our fundamental desires, asking God to confirm them or to help us adapt and change them. If the former, we regard them as God’s gifts to us; if the latter, as our gifts to God.