This Advent I have come to appreciate the theme of waiting: Waiting for Christmas, waiting for healing, waiting for the pandemic to end, waiting for times to gather again. This time of waiting has given us an opportunity to reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation (God’s Word becoming flesh). In becoming one of us, Christ showed us our sublime dignity. The incarnate God seeks us out! He sought us as the lover seeking the beloved. Jesus speaks of this searching out as the finding of the lost sheep. He seeks us out as “The Hound of Heaven” to use the image of Francis Thompson’s poem. In becoming one of us Jesus loved with a human heart and acted with a human will. In doing so, he taught us the value of truth, how to choose the good, and how to love our neighbor with forgiveness and compassion. My people, how Blessed we are. Merry Christmas. Fr. Terry Rassmussen Hound of Heaven Poem: http://www.houndofheaven.com/poem