December 13
Revelation 7:9-10
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
Actively Waiting
by Patricia Wilson, J.D.
Revelation, the last book of the Bible, gives us a vision of Christ’s victory to come, the Kingdom of God made perfect. The imagery of this passage is striking: the unity of all people of all the nations, worshipping and adoring our God.
Would that the arbitrary divisions that too often rule our society became nonexistent. Indeed, as I write this, we are in the midst of the political season, and the polarization of the different political parties--the “woke” versus the “unwoke," conservatives versus liberals, and so on--couldn’t be more stark. And of course, as predictable as the bluebonnets in the spring, we can expect that the cultural wars will erupt yet again over the use of “Happy Holidays” rather than "Merry Christmas."
Even within the Church, irrelevant divisions separate us from our brothers and sisters in Christ, divisions and differences that overshadow that as Christians, we all believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for the salvation of all mankind. It is often said that we have more in common than the differences that separate us. Nowhere should this be more clear than in the Church. Yet, the differences tend to obscure our common beliefs.
When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask that God’s kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. As a non-theologian, I read this petition quite simply: let’s do now what God’s will would have happen in heaven. In my mind, our faith calls on us to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, a message that is good news for all. While awaiting Jesus’ return, we are expected to do our part to create the Kingdom of God on earth. We will not do so perfectly, but can we not do better? I believe we are called to act with love, and generosity, and kindness, and forgiveness, and grace, and, let us not forget, humility.
Thousands of years ago, people awaited the coming of the Messiah. As we prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promise, I pray that we remember that we, too, are waiting; we are waiting for the return of Jesus. My hope is that we will do more than wait passively. I pray that we actively do what Jesus called on us to do.
Peace on earth, goodwill to all humankind.
About the Author
Patricia Wilson, J.D.
Patricia A. Wilson, J.D., is the Associate Dean and the William Boswell Chair of Law for Baylor University’s School of Law. She was named Interim Dean of Baylor Law School in July 2023 and served in that role until July 2024. A member of the Baylor Law faculty since 1993, she has taught courses on Employment Discrimination, Employment Relations, Labor Law, Family Law, Property, Antitrust, Intellectual Property, Consumer Protection, and Legal Writing. She taught the first-year Property course for 12 years and has also taught courses on Antitrust, Intellectual Property, Consumer Protection, and Legal Writing. Dean Wilson serves as a Minority Law Student Advisor and, for the past 10 years, has coached multiple moot court teams each year, with her teams achieving exceptional success.
Students benefit from Dean Wilson’s professional and personal experience in the classroom, where she supplements textbook cases with real-life examples. Before joining the Baylor Law Faculty, she practiced law for seven years. Dean Wilson has published articles on property, real estate issues, and client counseling. Service is particularly important to her. In 2005, she established the People’s Law School at Baylor Law—an annual event designed to educate members of the Waco community about their legal rights and make the law “user-friendly.” She has also served on numerous national boards and committees. Dean Wilson and her husband, Michael Jones, are the parents of four children. She enjoys spending time with her family, especially her three spirited grandchildren.