December 15, 2019

We are more than halfway through Advent and today’s readings are a reminder that while we should be rejoicing; there is still time to patiently wait and prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Not a preparation of all the secular aspects of the coming Christmas celebration.  Instead a time of preparation of our hearts and souls, through a call to a deeper faith and prayer life.  A conversion that will help us have a more meaningful relationship with the Lord and help us prayerfully reach out to those in need.  Perhaps a neighbor or stranger that may need a little help – seeing the good in other people and the good in this world.

This conversion will lead us to rejoice in the Lord and hopefully in those we are called to serve.  We are called to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and share our joy with others.  It is our mission to prepare ourselves for a deeper relationship with the Lord and in-turn we should help others patiently wait and prepare; to rejoice and deepen their relationship with the Lord.  Rejoicing; in Christ working through each of us and making Him visible to the less fortunate among us.

Mathew Kelly quite often tells his readers that their mission is to become “the best version of themselves”.  This happens by constantly increasing our faith life and by deepening our relationship with our Lord.  It is about worrying less about self and more about helping others in need of emotional, spiritual and physical support.  In a sense, it is about priorities – and putting God first in our lives and putting ourselves second.  This process of trusting in God and putting Him first will give us the ability to see that we are called to rejoice in the Lord and help our neighbors whenever possible.

         This conversion can only happen with a true relationship with the Lord that we know as our Creator and Savior.  God gave us free will so that we would be able to use our unique gifts to help become “the best version of ourselves”.  But we are also called to use those gifts to help those who are less fortunate than us.  We need to share the gifts that we have been given with those that are in need and share the love of God with them as well.

As we approach Christmas, today’s readings speak about an active, joyful waiting.  With this type of waiting, total trust is placed in God while we do everything to accomplish our task.  In the Second Reading, St James offers an example of patient waiting.  Farmers sow seeds in the ground, then let nature take its course. A time of patient waiting.

The Gospel offers the perfect example of waiting in John the Baptist, whose whole life was spent in active waiting for the coming of the promised Messiah.  As he languishes in Herod’s prison, he hears of a different Jesus then he expected.  Following the Jewish tradition, John believed the Messiah would be a powerful figure who would overthrow the Romans and establish the Kingdom of God.

John sends his disciples to inquire of Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus quotes Isaiah: “The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”  These words challenge John’s idea of the Messiah.  Jesus says that the true reading of Scripture looks forward to a messiah who would touch the lives of people where they are.  He would heal them spiritually and physically and restore them to a relationship with God.  Jesus is saying that his actions show who he is.

As Christians, we lead our lives like John the Baptist, waiting patiently while actively striving to prepare a way for Christ into our lives and into the lives of others.  At Home With the Word

When thinking of the word “rejoice” one might think about the birth of a child or grandchild, birthday celebrations, receiving the sacraments for the first time, graduation from high school or college, weddings and retirement.  These are just a few events in our lives that are a time to be happy and rejoice.  So too we should find time to rejoice at the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Before we can rejoice at the birth of Jesus we need time to patiently prepare.  One way that we are able to prepare for this wonderful event is the sacrament of reconciliation.  We can also prepare by attending daily mass, praying the rosary, spending quiet time in Adoration or participating in group prayer during Advent.  We can also prepare by helping the needy, by adopting a family during Advent, helping a neighbor in need, donating money to a charity or visiting the sick and/or elderly.

Advent is a busy time of year for all of us.  More often than not, that busyness can overcome us as we race to finish the shopping, wrapping, baking, and cooking in time for Christmas Eve.  Our challenge is not to make this season a frenzied time, but rather a time of joyful, patient anticipation and making ready for God who comes to dwell among us and changes our lives with the gift of salvation. 

As you gather as a family, talk about the preparations your family is making during the season of Advent.  Reflect together on these activities, not only on what you are doing but why you are choosing to do these things.  This could lead to a change or elimination of some of the activities to free up more time to spend as a family to pray together for conversion in all of us and truly prepare for the birth of Jesus.

We are all a work in progress.  God did not create us to be perfect.  However, we are called to follow the example that Jesus set for us.  We are called to renew ourselves and to become “the best version of ourselves”.

As we continue to patiently wait for the coming of Jesus this Advent, what better time than now is there to work on our conversion and become more like Jesus.  Let’s give to those in need, let’s pray for those who have nobody to pray for them, let’s take care of those that live on the fringes of society and the forgotten.  As we finalize our preparation for Christmas, let’s remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.  We are all working towards salvation and what better way to salvation then by a call to conversion – a little less of me and a whole lot more of God in our lives this Advent season.

This week as we get closer to the end of the Advent season and the birth of Jesus Christ; and our lives seem to get busier, let us all remember to take time for quiet prayer and reflection.  We need to have an inner peace and nurture our relationship with God – so that we do not miss the importance of the beautiful season of Advent.  A time of patiently waiting for that seed to grow and burst forth in spectacular splendor and beauty on Christmas day.  Most importantly “Rejoice” in the Lord, because our loving savior is coming.