Practicing Radical Advent: Purposeful Waiting in Seasons of Change

In times of profound uncertainty, Scripture shows us how to wait.

Major life transitions are inevitable, but they’re not easy. Changing jobs, moving across the country, beginning a relationship, entering retirement, or walking through grief all involve not only a shift from the old to the new, but also an in-between time―a period of waiting that can feel profoundly unsettling. In Practicing Radical Advent, Laurie Brink offers a biblically grounded guide to purposeful waiting. 

By “radical advent,” Brink means a holy waiting infused with God’s presence and promise. Such waiting is not passive but active, reflective, and creative. To illustrate what radical advent looks like, Brink focuses on biblical figures and their responses to impending change: Abram’s trust, Jonah’s resistance, Ruth’s adaptability, Peter’s openness, and more. She also shares stories from her own life and the lives of Christians throughout history. Through these biblical and personal narratives, Brink illuminates essential steps for crossing major thresholds: receiving an invitation, choosing to go forward, discovering a new vocation, crossing boundaries, weighing costs, recognizing destinations, seeking reconciliation, and changing expectations.

Authentic and engaging, Practicing Radical Advent shows how times of transition are opportunities for spiritual growth. Readers will emerge with renewed hope, practical strategies for navigating change, and deeper appreciation for life’s turning points.

Laurie Brink, OP, is professor of New Testament studies and director of the certificate in biblical spirituality at Catholic Theological Union. She serves as an associate editor for Catholic Biblical Quarterly and is the author of several books, including The Heavens Are Telling the Glory of God, What Does the Bible Say About Friendship?, and Practicing Radical Advent: Purposeful Waiting in Seasons of  Change.

Dianne Bergant, CSA, is professor of Old Testament studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She is a member and past president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America and is an active member of the Chicago Catholic/Jewish Scholars Dialogue. She has published numerous works, including Scripture: History and Interpretation, and The Song of Songs in the Berit Olam series, both published by Liturgical Press.