Dec. 8, 2013: 2nd Sunday of Advent (A)

Have you ever been in the spotlight? The kind of spotlight that we may be familiar with is the limelight -- such as actors are in the limelight all the time.  There has probably been a time when you have been in the spotlight when your not-so-graceful moments were repeatedly pointed out to others. It’s so easy to show someone in a negative light; and these days, you can spread this darkness instantaneously on Twitter or Facebook.

This past weekend, the senior class of Ascension Catholic School put on a different kind of spotlight at their retreat. One student would volunteer to sit in the midst of their peers, and then one by one the other students said what was positive about that student. It was a transforming experience for each student. Don’t we tend to be critical and harsh of others, but particularly much more with ourselves? So to hear someone praise who we are can be a moment that makes us blush. We are surprised by the goodness that is observed by others in us. One sadness from this experience is the realization that we don’t do this enough.

St. Paul speaks about this in the Second Reading. He says, “Brothers and sisters, may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.”  

Do you ever have the desire to be appreciated and welcomed? Of course! Something in our soul elevates when we are showered with praise and gratitude. Yet at the same time, something in our soul is drawn to hear the truth, not just compliments or nice things said about us.

Why did people flock to hear John the Baptist? He didn’t say anything that would please anyone. He put everyone in a spotlight that was uncomfortable; he urged everyone, without exception, to turn their lives around. Sin was ruining their lives, he said. He even singled out religious people as being presumptuous. Unless we turn our lives around and begin to seek and obey God’s will, saying the right things and doing the religious things are not enough. How many times have we said to ourselves, ‘I’m not perfect and I make mistakes here and there, but I really don’t need to change my life drastically. I really don’t need Jesus.’ Isn’t this presumption?

This kind of presumption was demonstrated to me personally when someone told me that she was oppressed by the evil spirits. She said sprinkling holy water and wearing medals had some effects but did not improve her situation. Upon listening to the person, she was not living an awful life. Whenever she thought she sinned, she prayed the Our Father, Hail Mary, and said her Act of Contrition. Why was there no improvement? She was falling into the trap of listening to the serpent who said nice things about her; he convinced her that she didn’t need Jesus or to humble herself to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The serpent convinced her that she was living a decent life, even though she was disobeying God’s will.  She didn’t realize that she had severed her relationship with God through her sins. When she did humble herself to ask forgiveness from Jesus and received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, she experienced a dramatic transformation. It was a reminder that we need to be vigilant and stay awake as our own pride and self-indulgence can deceive us from seeking Jesus and obeying Heavenly Father’s will.

What are we doing during this Advent to change our hearts? If we are not careful during this hectic season, we will become so absorbed in our own little world of shopping, wrapping gifts, Christmas parties, and vacations. Then we will forget why this season is given to us. God desires an intimate relationship with us by giving His Son Jesus to us, yet what a tragedy when we want Christmas without wanting Christ. And without Christ, we cannot have a relationship with the Heavenly Father. Like Blessed Mother, let us long for the long-expected Savior. Like her, let us say “yes” to God during this Advent. In our “yes” to God, Jesus will come into our hearts just as he was born in Blessed Mother’s.