Great Thought for Advent

Enclosed is an amazing excerpt from Michael O'Brien's book Father Elijah,

"the Pope always talks about hope, and maybe that was his big grace. He taught us to hope when everything seems lost. I thought about that last December during my trial. I always had a secret dislike of advent, because it's such a crazy time of year, but I really enjoyed it this year, if you can imagine anyone enjoying a liturgical season while he's being sent to jail for something he didn't do, were not supposed to be like the ancient pagans who watched the coming winter with a terror stricken obsession, not supposed to, but funny how the deathly vapors seep into your heart without you knowing it, During Advent I learned to kick it out, I learned to gaze into the growing dark with Spring in my eyes. Impossible, yep, but Christians should always Keep an icon of the impossible in their hearts!