Advent: What are YOU doing? Guest Post by Deacon Chip Jones

What Are You Doing?

Where did the year go?  It seems like it was just January!  But here we are, at the first Sunday of Advent!    

Advent is a season of the year in which the Church is “waiting”. Not waiting in lines in stores (though we will); not waiting on orders from Amazon.com; not waiting on the next sale.  Advent is a time of waiting…for Christ!

And I think it’s interesting that the culture’s focus goes, so early, to all the warm-and-fuzzy Christmas images, of the baby Jesus (if they can stand Him), and snowmen, reindeer and candy canes.  It’s interesting, because as Church, we spend the first half of Advent focused on the second coming of Christ, which is not going to be a warm-and-fuzzy event at all.  And the themes are a little…cautionary, to say the least.  “Keep watch! The Son of Man will show up like a thief in the night!  Don’t get caught sleeping!”  The first half of Advent is all about being prepared for the Last Judgment, not soft and cuddly stuff!

And being prepared for Christ’s return should be the focus of every Christian life.  But how we are waiting…and what we are doing while we are waiting…that’s far more important than just “watching and waiting”.

Isaiah describes, in today’s first reading, a people who have “wandered” from God’s ways.  And the prophet prays that God will return, and that God “might meet us doing right!”  Isaiah describes Israel in extreme terms: you are angry, and we are sinful; all of us have become like unclean people, all our good deeds are like polluted rags”.  He is describing a people that has turned its back on God, and yet Isaiah still acknowledges that God can help them get back on track! 

The Gospel isn’t any more comforting; it’s short and sweet, but still kind of threatening:  Be watchful! Be alert!  Don’t let me come back and find you sleeping!  Watch!

But see…these aren’t happy, feel-good readings; we can be tempted put a big “Doesn’t apply to me!” stamp on it, and stop listening.  Or we can hear them and say “Yep, Got it!”, check the box, and still stop listening.

It really isn’t the stuff of touchy-feely Christmas Cheer.

But there is more to these readings than scary words.  Look back to the parable Jesus used in this Gospel:  “It is like a man traveling abroad.  He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.”  Brothers and sisters…the master left His servants with work to do.  And what did Isaiah pray?  “Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways!  

A few of us might be total reprobates, the worst of the worst; if you are, and you’re here…Thanks be to God! There’s hope for you! But honestly, most of us aren’t evil people. We are just making our way through the world the best we can, with gifts we have, trying to do right. 

But Jesus isn’t talking just to the best of us.  Isaiah isn’t talking about just the worst of us.  They’re both talking to all of us.

What do I mean?  Well...if we are traipsing along in life, making it to Mass, but not much more, thinking that the sin in our lives isn’t really that bad...we are wrong!  Likewise…if we are sitting in the church every day, praying, reading the Bible, and figuring everything is OK, but doing nothing more…we are wrong, too!  God needs more than that out of us!

I know…it’s Advent, Christmas is coming…and I am bringing everyone down!  Besides, what do I expect?  I mean, if you’re coming to Mass, isn’t that a good thing? (Yes!)  If your kids are involved in Youth Ministry, or Religious Ed…isn’t that a good thing? (Yes!)  And if you’re spending time in Adoration, or praying the Rosary, or the Divine Mercy Chaplet, or reading the Bible…isn’t that good? (Yes!)

But brothers and sisters…God has armed us to do even more!  And He did that because the work He left for us to do wasn’t about doing our own thing, or even about saving our own soul.  It was about doing things, using our talents, to bring forth fruit for the Kingdom!  And how do we do that? We do it by working wherever God calls us to, according to our state in life, to lead other people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!

So, you come to Mass?  Invite your neighbor! You’re involved in a Bible study?  Ask about helping to start one for the young adults or the youth! Your kids are in Youth Ministry?  Suggest they invite a friend (even a non-Catholic one)!

Do you know any Hispanic members of your parish family?  Meet some!  Or spend time with the folks you already know!  Join the Knights of Columbus; work with St. Vincent de Paul.  Buy a devotional for your family, and commit to praying from it, as a family, every week, or even every day!  But whatever you do…do something, intentionally, to advance the Kingdom!  Because, brothers and sisters…we are called to work for the kingdom, not just “watch!”

The culture wants us to focus on the things that make us feel good: snowmen, and candy canes, manger scenes and Christmas trees.  And all those things are nice, in their place.

But as we enter this season of Advent, there is so much more that God is calling us to think about.  

When we remember that Christ is coming back, and that it means something that He’s coming back, it ought to make us look closely at our lives, to see how we are living, and to change what we can do be prepared for His return.  And we ought to be watchful. We need to be ready.

But we also need to be working.  And thanks be to God that He has equipped us for the work we need to do!  As Paul said in the second reading, we are all equipped with “the grace of God bestowed on [us] in Christ Jesus, … with all discourse and all knowledge, … so that [we] are not lacking in any spiritual gift as [we] wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We already have the toolkit we need to work for the Kingdom. We have already received the grace we need to do what we have been called to do!

Watching is good.  But working while we watch...That’s what we’re called to do.

So…what are you doing?

What the Heck are You Waiting For?

My two year old daughter is very perceptive. She is extremely in tune to people's feelings and makes observations that amaze me for someone so young. 

The other day, I was on my computer and she asked if I would get her something to drink. I mindlessly said, "Sure honey, just a minute." 

She said, "Just a minute? But Mom, why? What are you waiting for?" 

I think the Holy Spirit took over my child's mouth and spoke those words to my heart. HA! 

Seriously!!! What are you waiting for??

I've been praying strongly for various people in my life to open their hearts to the Lord and His love and mercy for them. There are many paths that people take in pursuit of Truth, but I think if we are honest, many of those paths are seeking a truth that conforms to our lives. We don't often honestly seek a truth that we conform ourselves to...

Logically, this makes no sense. I know people constantly switching from one religion to another because they disagreed with a teaching or didn't believe x, y, or z should be considered wrong and thus make them feel guilty. Guilt = bad, nowadays. I completely disagree with that notion.. guilt means we have a conscience and are sensitive to the fact that perhaps our poor decisions or actions have affected someone else. 

But I digress...

If we want to become a better version of ourselves, as Matthew Kelly would say, we have to aspire to change and mold and conform ourselves to something better. 

For example... when I do a Jillian Michael's fitness video, I think... DANG, those girls are ripped! I would like to be in that kind of shape someday. A person who looked and could exercise just like me in my own abilities would indeed be less inspiring to me to want to work out - because I've reached that point already. 

I want to be better. Human nature longs for improvement - this is why we read, learn, exercise, take music lessons, go that extra mile, try to be more patient, etc. But we can't improve in something we've already achieved... so when we look for religion to conform to our lives, requiring no change on our part, we will find ourselves greatly unsatisfied. 

I think pursuit of Truth really comes down to two things we ought to strive for: Love and Mercy. How can I love more deeply? How can I forgive more sincerely? How can I die to myself and my selfish desires in this moment? How can I let these things that bother me go? 

Can you do this outside of a religion? Sure. But who is holding you accountable? Who is setting your standard of holiness? Who inspires you to be greater than you are? 

Pope Francis has inspired millions of Catholics and non-Catholics alike by his example and witness to what it is to conform your life to Christ. He's not inspirational because he's the Pope. He's not inspirational because of his personality. He's inspirational because he is trying to be more like Christ! I know so many people in my life who inspire me on a daily basis by their great love and mercy. Who they are and their amazing, genuine, unselfish contribution to the world is made manifest because they have tried to conform their life to Someone greater. 

We all have our individual pursuits of Truth. I've wandered around seeking... my husband as wandered around seeking... we all have, even if we consider ourselves faithful to one religion or no religion. But I think we have to really be honest and ask... are we seeking to stay the same, unchanged, and find something that pacifies us and our lifestyles? Or are we seeking to move and grow and be challenged to change? 

And if we are seeking to be challenged to change, then what are we waiting for? Why are we waiting to be who we say we are or be who we want to be? Why are we waiting for someone to invite us? Why are we waiting for a sign in the sky? 

Why can't we follow, instead, the promptings of our hearts? 

Prayers tonight for all on their journey. Amen. 

When I Grow Up, I want to be Her Husband

"Hey Mommy!" said my three year old, almost four year old son as he jumped on to his bed for his night time story.

"Hi Sweetie!" 

"I need to tell you something. When I grow up, I am going to be Lucia's husband." He said with a big smile!

"Honey, Lucia is your sister. You can't be her husband but you can always protect her. A different lady will be your wife someday."

He was confused, but in true three year old fashion, changed the subject right away. 

That conversation struck me though, and almost made me want to cry. In his innocence, and as young as he is, he has a true love for his sister. He loves her so much that he wants to be with her forever. He couldn't imagine anyone else taking her place. 

What kind of love is this? This is the kind of love we all long to give and the kind of love we all long to receive. 

But as we get older, we break a little more easily. 

As we get older, we lose our purity of heart through sin, abuse, neglect, trials, sufferings of any sort, and that love starts to come with price tags and conditions. 

I will love you as long as you never hurt me. 

I will love you as long as you live up to my expectations. 

I will love you as long as you don't love anyone else but me, 

My children get it. They get that free love. This is, in part, why I love the movie, "Frozen". Anna and Elsa have a true love for one another that isn't broken through the years. It isn't suddenly swept up in emotions and hormones from a prince charming entering the picture. It is through good and bad, cold and warmth, everlasting. 

This is the kind of love we are made for. Nothing else will satisfy us. This is the kind of love that a child can give with all his or her might! But this is the kind of love that only God can give, that lasts and heals and will never change. It will never have a price tag or a condition. It is freely given to us who want it and accept it. 

It is arms open wide, outstretched on the cross, pouring down from our Savior's side. No one can take our place. No one can take His place in our lives. 

This love calls us to love beyond earth and feelings and hormones and romance and plants us deep into the heart of Christ, where we can learn to love like Him. 

I fail so often at loving people. I start to feel bad when I'm short tempered or impatient or struggling to forgive - It is easy to feel like a failure and let that consume me. When I look to the cross, though, I see that love requires sacrifice. To love authentically really means to put another person before yourself, and while I may never be called to give up my life in death for someone I love, I am called to die to my self, my own selfishness, my own pride, my own way of doing things and LOVE that person, SERVE that person, and PRAY for that person. 

God bless you tonight and I pray we can love more. "What the world needs now... is love, sweet love..." Not fluffy gone in a day love, but everlasting Love. 

Amen!