Practicing Radical Advent

Practicing Radical Advent, Laurie Brink, OP, Dianne Bergant, CSA. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (ISBN: 9780802885265) 2026.

Summary: In seasons of imminent change, a guide to holy waiting infused with God’s presence and promise.

The season of Advent, preceding Christmas, is not the only time in our lives when we wait. Seasons of waiting populate our lives. Applying for college and awaiting admission. Sensing it is time to change jobs, or even career direction, but not quite sure to what yet. Preparing for marriage or the birth of one’s first child. Experiencing loss and waiting with our grief to see what life will hold subsequently.

Laurie Brink, OP has written this book as a guide for how we might wait in such times of transition. She calls navigating this liminal space “radical advent”:

“I call this liminal space radical advent, which is first and foremost a holy waiting, infused with God’s presence and promise. The term “radical,” coming from the Latin word for “root,” reflects the deeply rooted nature of this liminal space and time. We are not talking about waiting to check out at the grocery store. Radical advent is serious waiting–waiting for your test results, waiting to hear good news, waiting beside the bed of a loved one. Radical advent is the waiting that accompanies the profound moments of transition in our lives” (p. 4).

Brink proposes eight “stepping stones” as we wait through times of transition. The first is to look for and respond to God’s invitation, as Abram did, when he went to the land God would show him. Then secondly, we choose to go forward, as Naomi and Ruth did in their partnership of hesed.

Third, is discerning a new vocation, as Peter did in the boat as he falls at Jesus feet and Jesus invites him to fish for people. To say “yes” to a new vocation is to go deeper in friendship with God. But, fourthly, a new vocation often means crossing boundaries. It did for Jesus and the Samaritan woman, as they enter “into another’s garden,” resulting in faith for many in Samaria. Likewise, new vocations and boundary crossing lead to the fifth stepping stone of counting the costs. It may mean leaving a place we’ve called “home” for we know not what.

Not only do we leave home. We also recognize the destination, the sixth stepping stone. Specifically, for the follower of Jesus, that destination is always “Jerusalem” in some form. In some way, we will embrace the call to lose our lives for Christ’s sake. Seventh, the call to follow Jesus is a call to become reconciled. Through Christ, we are reconciled to God, who no longer counts our trespasses against us. But that also means that we reconcile with those we’ve wronged. Finally, our new situation means crossing the eighth stepping stone of changed expectations. For example, Mary of Magdala did not expect the death of the one who had healed her. Then, when she went to the tomb, expecting to anoint a dead body, she did not expect to encounter Jesus alive, until he called her name.

Brink devotes a chapter to each of the stepping stones, including relevant biblical narratives and personal commentary. Then she offers prompts for reflecting and a four step process of reading, reflecting, responding, and returning.

This is not a traditional book on the Season of Advent. Rather, it is about all the “Advents” of our lives and how we might both await and respond to all the “comings” of the Lord to us. Change is not always something we like. But change happens. The “stepping stones” of this book position us to experience change as a sacred encounter. And it assures us that in change, God wants to meet us afresh and deepen our relationship with Him.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.