These are the opening words from Paul in the second reading for this First Sunday of Advent in Year C (1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2). 

It seems that here, Paul is suggesting that being human is more a verb than a noun, more a human becoming than a finished product. Perhaps it would be most accurate to add the word ‘yet’ to all assessments of ourselves and each other.  

‘She has not learned patience… yet.’   

‘I have not developed courage… yet.’ 

The ‘yet’ changes us. It moves us to see through a different lens, the lens of peace and goodwill that Advent heralds. 

Advent is full of powerful images of life unfolding, of the ‘yet’ that is coming – pregnant Mary, Joseph meeting each changing circumstance with courage, dew falling on grass, dawn drawing near, Divine Light coming into the world… 

Advent reminds us that the only box Christ allowed himself to be put into was a feeding box in a stable. All other boxes people tried to fit him into, he rejected. He had not yet reached his ‘It is finished’ time!

It is not okay to put the other in the box we construct for them with our limited perceptions. We, all of us, have not yet reached our ‘It is finished’ time. 

Paul concludes the reading with these words: 

 Jesus, walk with me in my ‘not yet’ time and give me the courage to grow in love,
that the dawn of each new day will find me a human being, a human becoming, 
moving steadfastly to my ‘It is finished’ time.
Amen.
Glory be to God and on earth peace. 

Emilie Cattalini rsj