Advent has a way of reminding us that we do very little to “deserve” the mysterious goodness around us and in us. We are not required to be “worthy” of it because God gives everything out of pure generosity. God gazes in wonder at the world and at each person and says, “You are worthy of it. I love you. I will not leave you.”
Yet, here is a paradox: the shocking smallness of our own selves. We are in no way the center of the universe. That is good news, not bad. We can rest in God’s everlasting arms and then do as much as we can to help others. Let us continue this year’s Advent journey mindful that our “worthiness” comes from being loved, not just from achieving.