By the time of Advent, people are: Exited that Christmas is a little over one week away; worried they haven’t found a present for someone; tired of all the commercials, or, just hoping it will all be over soon. If one of the above descriptions applies to us, we need to  listen to the words of St. James in the  second reading, “be patient.” Patience is more than sitting idly waiting for something to happen. It also entails seeking understanding. If this time of year causes us stress or angst, we should spend a little time with the Church in reflection on what we celebrate. As we receive insights of understanding, the distress we had will disappear.