Dec. 8, 2019: 2nd Sunday of Advent A
Dec. 8, 2019: 2nd Sunday of Advent A
We are coming upon a season where we have to begin to rummage through the closet and attic of our home for Christmas decorations. For some, it will be a dreaded experience because the sheer amount of stuff stuck in our closets and attic, reminding us that we need to take time to declutter. Isn’t it easier to say to ourselves, “I’ll do that after Christmas”? Yet we know that unless we make painful decisions now to throw away or give away, we will not have room for what we will accumulate this coming year. The fewer things we own, the less there is to clean, manage, and maintain. A similar effort is needed in our spiritual life. Our own souls can get cluttered with unnecessary desires and attachments, and we need to make painful decisions to let go to make room for God in our lives. Listen to the following advice from Pope Francis,
Christian spirituality proposes a growth marked by moderation and the capacity to be happy with little. It is a return to that simplicity which allows us to stop and appreciate the small things, to be grateful for the opportunities which life affords us, to be spiritually detached from what we possess, and not to succumb to sadness for what we lack. This implies avoiding the dynamic of dominion and the mere accumulation of pleasures. (Laudato SÃ 222, Pope Francis)
When we look at the life of John the Baptist, we realize that happiness and fulfillment are not dependent on material possessions. John owned nothing other than the clothes on his back and ate what grew in the desert. The desert is a lonely, quiet place with very few distractions which affords those who dare to journey there the privilege of encountering God. The simplicity of life allowed John to spend full-time inviting people to the desert to hear the voice of God. He shouted in the desert, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" John’s voice was one crying out, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” How do we go about preparing our way to God? To repent is to turn away from selfish behavior patterns and acknowledge our sins. To prepare the way for the Lord is to reform our lives in self-forgetful service of our neighbor. While we may not be able to physically journey to a desert, may I suggest taking a spiritual pilgrimage during the remaining days of Advent, through prayer, penance, and almsgiving?
What is a pilgrimage? From the ancient times, pilgrimages were made to holy places by Christian faithful to renew the relationship they once had with God. Whether a physical pilgrimage or a spiritual one, the essence of a pilgrimage is that it’s a journey, assigned by God, which brings the pilgrim out of herself and into the presence of God.
Prayer, silence and recollection quiets the person’s mind and heart to be aware of the gaze of the loving Father. One need not be in a chapel or church to experience the gaze of the Heavenly Father. Mother Teresa often prayed during her numerous trips around the world at airports, overcrowded cities, and bustling intersections. Once entered into prayer, the voice of God—still and small—is heard: “Leave the distractions and despair behind. Separate yourself from the world unto Me. And fear not, for I will go with you. Come.”
We invite you during this Advent to make your whole life a spiritual pilgrimage. One way to do this is making a concrete commitment to daily prayer. In the pews are Stewardship of Prayer cards for adults as well as children. The adults will get two cards; Wholly Committed card to fill out and keep in your wallet/purse and the Prayer Process card to guide you in prayer. The children will also get two cards; My Prayer Promise card to fill out and My Little Prayer Process card.
God is inviting all of us to see things as God sees. Once we accept this invitation, we will be a different person than when we began this spiritual journey.
