I had followed an impulse and called an elderly nun. Her life was now characterised by many restrictions and changes, but in many things that were difficult she remained true to herself with admirable clarity. She told me about an Advent story that had really touched her.
Father and son had just come from the Christmas market. They were visited. A stranger dropped by. After a time of sharing, the father took the visitor aside and spoke to him alone. Later, the son asked: ‘Dad, who has that been? The father replied, a little embarrassed: ‘That was the Messiah, who announced a long time ago that he would come again.’ ‘And what did you talk about?’ the son asked curiously. The father's eyes filled with tears and he said: ‘The Messiah asked me if people were still waiting for him and I had to tell him: No - even in this Advent season, no one is really waiting for you anymore!’
