Make firm the knees of the weak! ... Isaiah 

Well that's me!  Took a fall and injured my knee. Always a learning experience ... in patience, and patience is one of the scripture themes today:

"Be patient brothers and sisters until the coming of the Lord."
2nd Reading from St. James

Being laid up at all demands patience. Every little move makes a demand on patience. And whether down or up, we all need to grow in patience with our own human frailitys.

We need to become kind to ourselves. We live in a hyper-speed culture. Immediate demands press upon us.

Frustration can nag us.  Patience is really an aspect of HOPE, THE GREAT ADVENT VIRTUE.

Finally we go out to the desert with John The Baptist today.
What a wild man he is!

He is the last and greatest of the prophets.

And so we pray our Advent Mantra:

HELP US TO BE PATIENT UNTIL YOUR COMING:
...patient with our shortcomings,
...patient with our failures,
....patient with the flaws of others.

For patience is an integral element of HOPE.

AND HOPE IS OUT THERE BEFORE US.
NEVER BEHIND US,
AND SHE BECKONS TO US:

"COME ON!
KEEP GOING!
DO NOT STOP!
KEEP MOVING...
TOWARD CHRISTMAS JOY!
BE COMFORTED!
BE COMFORTED!"