I know a couple in their late 30s who have been unable to= have children; they just filled out adoption papers in hopes of realizing their dreams. We all long for something. It may be better h= ealth, a more fulfilling relationship, or a better life for children. You may long for better grades in = school or work that gives meaning to your week.&n= bsp; We all have deep longings, and we get in touch with them during Adve= nt.

The merchants of Christmas goods know that we have other = longings, though these are not so deep. We are not so proud of them, but we long for a prettier home, a wider wardrobe= , a better electronic toy, a car or a boat or a home such as the neighbors have. We want more expensive vacations and meals. The merc= hants of Christmas tempt us to indulge these passions as if they will fulfill or = at least make us forget about our deeper longings for intimacy, real friendshi= p or more devotion, even if it means going into debt, giving less to charities, = or spending less time with God in service to others or prayer. All our longings are very real, so= we need to evaluate what we long for and why.

The four weeks of Advent commemorate 4000 years of waiting between the promise of a Savior and the fulfillment of that promise in Jesus Christ. Most of us have troub= le waiting four minutes for service, much less 4000 years.

Our longings are not always fulfilled immediately. Some people wait for a child; othe= rs do not even find real love until late in life; you cannot develop musical or athletic skills without years of practice.= Some things take time.

While we wait, we need encouragement. We need to know that all will be well. St. Paul realized that = the Christians in Rome were in that situation.= Jesus had said, “Love one another,” but it was getting h= ard for them to do so. They harbo= red prejudices. Jews and Gentiles did not get alon= g with one another for thousands of years. Now they were worshiping God together in Jesus Christ. It sounds beautiful, but it didn&#= 8217;t all go smoothly. You can̵= 7;t just suddenly start worshiping with people you have despised all your life. It takes a lot out of y= ou to do this. But worship and comm= unity go together, and authentic worship demands authentic respect.

Paul encouraged the Romans with this reminder: Think abou= t the Bible, he said. It was writte= n for our instruction and to give us hope. Jesus fulfilled the promises God made to the patriarchs of old. God followed through on those prom= ises precisely so that Jew and Gentile could worship together 4000 years later.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> There will be difficulties, but wh= en you remember God’s vision for us, it will give you hope.

Whenever our longings get the best of us, whenever we des= pair about realizing our best dreams, turn to the Bible and remember the people = who waited an even longer time. T= heir hopes were fulfilled. And our= s will be too.