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Wisdom, Waiting, and the Work of Advent

December 8, 2025

Proverbs 1:20-33|Psalm 127|Galatians 6:7-10|Matthew 13:47-52

My team at work often teases me because I am constantly asking the same question of them and myself. I even have a sign with the question hanging in my office. That question is: “To what end?” I don’t ask it to be (intentionally) annoying, but to get us to pause and consider why we’re doing the things we do. What do we hope this effort leads to? Where are we going with this? What is the purpose?  Today’s readings reminded me that Advent is a time when we are asked to consider our choices and priorities as we wait for what is to come.

In a world that feels loud, chaotic, and relentlessly hurried, Advent invites us to slow down—not just to wait, but to wait with intention. Proverbs describes Wisdom calling out in the busiest streets, trying to break through the noise. It’s a vivid reminder that clarity doesn’t always require more effort—sometimes it requires quieting down enough to hear what’s already calling to us. Advent becomes a built-in moment to ask our own “To what end?” and to listen for answers that might help reorient us.

Psalm 127 adds a grounding layer, reminding us that our efforts become hollow if they’re fueled only by anxiety or perfectionism. And in a season where many of us are striving for the “perfect” holiday—perfect décor, perfect gatherings, perfect everything—it’s refreshing to hear that rest is also part of the work! Maybe Advent invites us to ask “To what end?” and to reexamine what we’re building and why, encouraging us to shift from frantic production toward more meaningful presence and connection.

Paul’s words in Galatians echo this call to intentionality: “You reap whatever you sow.” Advent is, in many ways, a season of planting. “To what end?” Do we want to cultivate restlessness or peace? Fear or hope? Cynicism or compassion? I’ll admit I often grow weary in trying to do what’s right, especially when life feels overwhelming—but perhaps Advent is a reminder that small, steady acts of goodness still matter, even when (or especially when) they require perseverance.

Finally, Jesus’ parable of the net encourages us to sort through the mixed “catch” of our own lives. What habits, assumptions, or fears can we let go of? What sparks of insight, kindness, or courage should we carry forward? Advent invites us to hold both the old and the new: our long-held values and the fresh perspectives emerging from the world around us.

As we listen more deeply, rest more intentionally, and thoughtfully consider “to what end” in our daily decisions, may this season draw us into a steadier, more grounded kind of waiting—one that prepares us for the clarity, connection, and renewal that this time of year offers.

Shareen Knowlton