Advent is here

At Mass the other day, Father Jim French spoke about Jesus' second coming in relation to Advent, instead of Jesus' coming as a baby, which is what I usually think I'm waiting for during Advent.

He brought our attention to the line "Thy kingdom come" from the Lord's Prayer, and talked about how we can do this in our daily lives.

I'd never before thought about juxtaposing these beliefs. The paradox: While we're waiting, make the kingdom come. Make heaven here. Be what we're hoping for. Bring it to others so they can experience, understand and hope for it, too. What is it that I'm praying for when I pray this line?

The way I imagine heaven is that everyone is one. The body of Christ, perfectly in sync. One life. Complete unity, with each other and with God.

Like the holy trinity, we retain our individual identities, but no "I" or "you," "we" or "them" divides us. It's just "us," together, knowing each other and being known completely. With no preference, loving everyone as we love the person we love deepest. Being loved by everyone as the person who loves us deepest loves us.

There is joy and acceptance, the amazement and wonder at each person God must see as he looks on us. There is an amazement and wonder at ourselves as we are seen by others as we are, as we were created and as we see ourselves that way, too.

There is an awe at God, who would let us experience this, an amazement and wonder at God, who we finally tangibly know is with us. Is us, as we are him. Because there is no separation.

Here and now on earth we pray: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." We know that with prayer, there has to be action.

We see someone who needs food and pray for them to have food. We know our prayers are really to change ourselves, to give us the courage and means to change the other person's situation, to provide them with food.

We know someone who is sad and pray for their healing. We know it is up to us to be the answer in that prayer and provide for that person our presence, a card, a phone call.

We are Christ's body. It is us. So, how are we making his kingdom come? How are we making heaven, this unity, peace, amazement and deep, deep love, on earth?

This is what Advent and Christmas are about -- a time to remember and celebrate each year that heaven came to earth as a baby to show us how.

He is coming to us again, but in the meantime, let's not miss all the ways he is here now, all of the people he is here in.

He is coming again, but let's not think until then, heaven remains something distant in the sky.

Let's allow our prayer to change us, allow God to answer it with us, allow God's love and presence to move through us to make our relationships with strangers, co-workers and those we love deepest, sacred, holy, heaven.