06 Jan Advent Recollection 2021: Waiting For God in the Fray

Advent Recollection 2021: Waiting For God in the Fray

by Ms. Dianalyn Carag

To usher the season of Advent and in celebration of ICA’s 85th Founding Anniversary, the ICA community had an online Advent recollection with Rev. Fr. Johnny Go, S.J. as facilitator.  

The first part of the recollection invited everyone to reflect on the 3 kinds of graces that God gives us:  the long-awaited grace, the unexpected grace, and the unwanted grace.  For the community to understand these kinds of graces, Fr. Johnny recalled the experiences of some Biblical characters:  the excitement and gratitude of Simeon and Anna when they finally received their long-awaited grace; the surprise of Mary, the mother of Jesus when the Angel Gabriel announced to her God’s unexpected grace of being chosen to be the mother of the promised Savior; and St. John the Baptist, who struggled to understand and accept the unwanted grace he found himself in.  Surely, everyone had their own stories to tell of the graces they have experienced.  And all these stories remind us that God’s grace indeed comes in many ways.  So, in this season of Advent, it is good to reflect: How do we wait and how do we prepare ourselves to receive His grace? 

The second part of the recollection offers a different perspective on the pandemic. He mentioned that God is not like a scientist who would control some the world to get the desired result.  Instead, God is more like a farmer who cares for His creations and respects the freedom He gave them. He tends to each creation according to its needs and situation.  We may not fully comprehend God’s mysterious ways but definitely, He is a faithful and loving God.  

It was a grace-filled Saturday morning of prayer, songs, and reflection – a timely break in the busyness of life to “recollect our scattered selves.”