1st Sunday of Advent
Fr. Philip Neri Powell OP
OLR, NOLA
I
don't have to tell you that the world is out of whack. Has been for a
while now. But have you noticed that we seem to be swirling 'round
the bowl faster than ever? Maybe it's just me, but my brakes aren't
working and the ditches seem to be a lot wider than they used to be.
I keep getting the urge to yell, “Let me off this thing!” There's
a monastery in Wyoming that needs the services of a gently used
Dominican friar, I'm sure of it. Unfortunately, fleeing to a cozy
monastic cell isn't really an option. And I doubt any of you have
that option either. We're in the world as it spirals out of control.
We have two sources of solace while we spin: 1). the world has been
out of control since the Fall in the Garden, so nothing new, really;
and 2). Christ is coming back for us. What counts right
now is what we do in
the Meantime. Jesus warns us, “Beware
that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life.” Drowsy. Complacent.
Self-satisfied. In the Meantime, we are to remain vigilant, on-guard,
ever ready. Advent is our time to practice being prepared for the
coming of Christ.
Now,
you may be thinking, “Well, I'm not much of a drinker or a
carouser, so I'm good. I'm ready.” And that's great! Two fewer
obstacles for you to tackle. But how are you with the anxieties of
daily life? Are you worrying yourself sick about the kids, the grand
kids, the job, the mortgage, the economy, crime, politics, race
relations, the Saints' less than stellar win-lose ratio? IOW, are you
allowing – yes,
allowing – the
people and events you have no control over occupy your heart and mind
with fantasies of control? That's anxiety. Anxiety is the body and
soul's reaction when it becomes clear to you that you have no
control, yet you continue to believe and behave as if you do. You can
let the illusion go and be free, or you can continue being a slave to
magical thinking. Anxiety works well for the Enemy b/c it keeps you
preoccupied in pride. While you spend your time and energy proudly
attempting to will reality in a different direction through worrying,
you neglect your duty to grow in holiness. The more you worry, the
more you open yourself to the world, seeking solutions in passing
things. The more you worry, the less you trust in God's promise to
provide. The less you trust God, the further you fall into the world.
The less prepared you are for Christ's return.
How
do we prepare? Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, says, to
love boundlessly so as “to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless
in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord
Jesus.” Loving without limit puts us squarely in the world while
leaving us uninfluenced by the world. That's holiness. If we love to
be seen loving, then we are not loving as Christ loves us. We're
loving to make ourselves into saviors: “Look at me! Look at how
loving I am! I'm saving all these poor wretches from hungry and
disease!” That's not being blameless in holiness but rather being
blameworthy in worldliness. Our works of mercy must be done for the
greater glory of God and no
other reason.
Otherwise, we are not preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ
Jesus as the Just Judge but rather condemning ourselves with
self-glorification. In fact, this is one of the ways that you can
allow your heart to become drowsy – you come believe that your
mercy is yours to bestow. To give or withhold mercy is mine to
decide. A heart and mind given to this lie is more than just drowsy;
it's drunk with power. And in need an awakening.
“Beware
that your hearts do not become drowsy...” What can we do to keep
our hearts alert? First, let go of anxiety, let go of worry. It's
distracting and pointless. Advent is about waiting in joyful
anticipation for two events we know are coming: the arrival of the
Christ Child at Christmas and the Second Coming of Christ at the end
of the age. We are to be prepared for both. Ready to welcome him, the
Infant Jesus, and ready to be judged by the Just Judge. Worry does
nothing to prepare us. Second, go to confession! Water cannot flow
through a clogged pipe. You can't chew if your jaws are wired shut.
Sin prevents us from receiving God's gifts. Sin clogs our pipes and
wires our jaws. Go to confession and be ready for your judgment.
Third, be generous. Generosity is one of the many surefire ways of
growing in humility. Nothing you have or are is yours. All of it –
me, you, all the things of man and nature – belong to God first. We
are given these things as gifts to use while we're here. When you are
generous with what you have and are, you acknowledge to God and
others that you depend on Him alone. Take these weeks of Advent to
practice being prepared for your final judgment. Jesus exhorts us:
“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength...to
stand before the Son of Man.”
Follow
HancAquam or Subscribe ----->
