Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life

As Christians and Americans, we find ourselves at a similar point in the liturgical year and in the political cycle, suspended in two periods of anticipation: for the new administration and for Advent as we await Christmas. We eat the tiny chocolates from the little windows of our Advent calendar and light the candles on our wreaths, methodically marking time as Christmas day draws near. At the same time, we also seek to welcome Jesus more fully into our lives and look forward to His coming again. While these weeks can become stressful—with finals to study for, with papers to write, with gifts to shop for and the financial strain it may put on our wallets, with the cookies we might feel obligated to bake or the gatherings we might be expected to attend—the Advent season is at its core one of joy, hope, and love.

On September 24, 2015, my iPhone alarm was set for 2:20 a.m., a time early enough that I did not even feel tired jumping out of bed. I put on my running shorts and a long-sleeve Georgetown University shirt in order to represent my school proudly in front of a potentially large crowd. As I knocked on my neighbor’s door to see if he was ready to go, I knelt in the dorm hallway tying my shoe in a double knot. I never tie my shoe in a double knot. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t have to stop on the five mile run to the Capitol to see Pope Francis.