As I sat in my pew this weekend waiting for Mass to begin, I noticed the cantor off to the side of the altar fiddling with something. Just a moment later I realized whatever he was working on was stirring something suspended above the altar. After loosening the grip of the knot, he slowly lowered the fresh evergreen boughs and candles hanging above and behind the spot where the priest stands to consecrate the body and blood of Jesus. It was then that I noticed the priest who had been standing in silence and stillness waiting. He watched as the wreath spun this way and that. He patiently waited as it finally came to rest, allowing him to light the first candle of Advent.

Watching the cantor wrestling with the ropes and the priest waiting for the wreath to descend, I thought of how often we wrestle with our faith in God.