Advent: Hoping for in the Fulfillment of God's Promises
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At Mass this past week, a few words struck me in the Pentecost sequence: You of Comforter’s the best.
It reminded me that You, our Father, are the Great Comforter. You are the Best Comforter when I am in need of it.
I relish comfort, especially in moments of struggle, anxiety, restlessness, or grief. I often struggle to find that comfort and seek it in the ways of the world and then I realize later that only God can provide the comfort I am seeking.
Increasingly, I find that there is a great hunger in people for comfort. Comfort from stress, difficulties, emotions, and all sorts of things that plague our lives. People will often use unhealthy means to comfort themselves and land themselves in a cycle of sin and addiction.
I recall a conversation I had with a close companion at work. Both of us frequently rely on getting a Starbucks coffee downstairs in our office during the early afternoon at work to comfort us in the fatigue, stresses and difficulties we experience in corporate life. “It’s like a comfort,” she said one day, which illuminated to me that I was using coffee as a comfort instead of turning to God.
That’s just a small everyday example of how we might seek comfort in the ways of the world. Beyond that, we might seek comfort in excess food, drink, alcohol, sex, shopping, internet, smartphone/internet use, or TV/Netflix. Alternatively, perhaps we seek healthier comforts like friendship, a warm bath, or gentle music. Still, those things only satiate and comfort us for a little while.
Let us be reminded that God is the greatest of comforters, and wants to give us that comfort when we need it in healthy, sustaining ways that nourish our relationship with Him and growth in holiness. One of my favorite lines of Isaiah is “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” because indeed, this is the character of our God and loving Father. He loves and cherishes His children. He wants to embrace and hold us in His arms, like any father would, when we are sad, lonely, restless, stressed, or frustrated.
God will comfort us with His words, presence, and love if we turn to Him, for He is the Great Comforter. The Best Comforter.
Katie Zalany lives in Cleveland Ohio. She is a Third Order Secular Franciscan (OFS), spiritual director, benefits/wellness leader, certified health and life coach, and volunteer. She is the creator of the ministry Women in Waiting | Made for Fruitfulness and is a published author. Her writing interests and focus areas include Gospel reflections, Franciscan spirituality, women's spirituality, prayer, and integration of faith and daily living.
