what am I going to do this advent?

In Mexico I have been journeying with the LGBTQ community of the Archdiocese. We have mass every Sunday evening in different churches throughout Mexico City. Usually one of the members of the community gives the reflection. This Sunday the mass was at our Church “Holy Redeemer” and Daniel, a young man who was just baptized last year gave the reflection. The questions that Dani asked have stuck with me throughout this week. Advent reminds us that Jesus not only came once 2000 years ago, but He continues to come into our lives in every moment. Are we a reflection of that presence, or do we live as if Jesus is absent from our lives? How is my relationship with my family, with my neighbors, with my church, my groups, and my community? How can I use this Advent season to prepare my heart and be a sign of hope for others? The first question is easy. How can I prepare my heart? Pretty much doing what I’ve done the last 61 Advents of my life. Go to mass every day, reflect on the readings, light the candles on the advent wreath, or in my childhood open the doors on my advent calendar. Go shopping, decorate the tree buy presents but always remember that the presents that I give or get aren’t important but rather that it is a gesture of love. But the second question hit me harder. “Be a sign of hope for others, my family, my friends, my groups my community?” Well my family is difficult because they are all in the states and one of my 7 siblings won’t even talk to me. My community? Or my communities? My Redemptorist community, especially the two professed and 5 postulants I live with. My LGBTQ community in Mexico City? I think I can be a sign of hope but being authentic, by being Patrick. To pay attention to them, to listen to them. Many times they ask me, “are you angry? Why are you angry?” And I get angry responding, “no I’m not angry!” But I lack patience, I lack patience of the way things are done in Mexico. I get angry and lose patience we it takes me 20 minutes to drive two blocks. I get angry when I go to the store and I have to wait in one line to pay for the item, get a receipt, wait in another line to pay and then go back in another line to get my item. Why can’t I just self check and be done with it? I get angry when I have to lock the church and the 13 locks all have 13 different keys. So yes, God is calling me to be patient. Most especially with the men that I live with. But what about my neighbors? I live in the Central Historical of Mexico City. During the day the streets are filled with 1000’s of people buying and selling all kinds of everything on the street. When I walk past them how can I be a sign of hope. Few if any know that I am Redemptorist Missionary and I am not the type to wear my habit to draw attention to myself. How can I be a sign of hope to my thousands of neighbors? In November I attended a Redemptorist Meeting in New Jersey. I had the opportunity to see my Novice Master Andy Costello who also preached at my first mass. I had not seen him in years. He is 85, uses a walker and usually doesn’t have a tooth in his mouth. In a small group sharing he said that his goal is to always try to talk to one person every day. Again not as a priest but as Andy. Just to say to someone and let them to talk, to share what is going on in their life. To talk about what is important to them. Last night I listened to a women share her concerns about her work. I have 20 more days this advent to listen to others. To try to be the a sign of hope to others. Thank you Dani for the question, Thank you Andy for the answer.