A Fourth Sunday of Advent Thought to Start the Week Off Right
We're almost there: Christmas is exactly one week away. This year we're blessed with the longest possible Advent: a full four weeks; plenty of time to prepare. So...Are you prepared? If not quite, there's more time left.
For example:
Maybe you haven't really performed any penitential acts so far. It's understandable. First of all, you hardly hear of the penitential aspect of Advent these days. And while Advent is more "joyful penance" than we encounter in Lent, it's penitential nonetheless. So if you've let the last three weeks fly by without any penitential practices, go to it. It's not that hard. For example, any one of us can delay eating a couple of minutes after saying grace (mortification); or maybe you skip a meal or two in the coming week (fasting). These may challenge some more than others, but here's one that - just a guess - likely challenges all of us: charity. Be charitable to all comers this week. Everyone.
OK, maybe you slip up once or twice (or thrice!), but the attempt will be worth your effort. Our Lord notices everything, of course, so taking a good shot at being charitable to everyone with whom you come in contact won't go unnoticed, even if that annoying co-worker doesn't appreciate your extraordinary patience. But don't do it for a spiritual pat on the head. Do it because you love Him. Remember that the baby in the Manger will someday suffer and die for you because He loves you. Remember that He knew His ultimate fate when He condescended to come and live among us, as one of us, fully human, even as He remained the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Remember that His entire life was lived as an example for us to follow such that we would know - beyond the shadow of a doubt - just what we need to do in order to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Just thinking of all this, even if for only a few minutes, will inspire us to increase our fervor this last week of Advent, don't you think?
Perhaps these last three weeks have flown by and you've hardly noticed any difference in your daily life as you go about your business. It's been just another three weeks in a busy year. For whatever reason, there's hardly been any distinction between the first three weeks of Advent and any other three weeks during 2016. Even if you've been doing some shopping and decorating, it's all been just another item on your To Do list. The "Spirit of Christmas" just hasn't penetrated your typical daily activity, whether in your thoughts or feelings, in any significant way.
Well, you've still got 6 whole days (and part of today) ahead to make some holes in your typical daily activity. Besides those little mortifications and a bit of fasting to observe the penitential, how about some special prayers to encourage the joyful? We've talked in the last two weeks about a favorite aspiration: "Divine Infant of Bethlehem, come and take birth in our hearts!" There's still time to pray this lovely aspiration, one I've found always helps me remember that it's Advent, one that never fails to play its part it's part in helping me prepare my heart to receive Jesus on Christmas Day.
So for those of us with some sort of an Advent "deficit," it's time to step back, take a deep breath, and plunge into this Holy Season. While it's certainly true that the road is narrow for those who would be saved, it's also true that Our Lord's mercy knows no bounds for those of us who turn away from sin and gaze upon the Babe in the Manger, returning Love with love. He Who whipped the merchants and money changers in the Temple is also the Good Shepherd. He who paints a fearsome picture of the Day of Judgment when mankind will be divided into those who forsook Him and those He will welcome into His Kingdom makes clear in no uncertain terms that, "He shall feed His flock like a shepherd...Come unto Me all ye that labor."
Here now a beautiful expression of our Shepherd's mercy and love from Handel's Messiah. The lovely voice of Barbara Bonney singing a flawless and heart-felt rendering of this great piece with the Frieburg Baroque Orchestra virtually guarantees you an increase in Christmas spirit. Take a few minutes to watch and listen and be carried away to Bethlehem to await His coming.
For example:
Maybe you haven't really performed any penitential acts so far. It's understandable. First of all, you hardly hear of the penitential aspect of Advent these days. And while Advent is more "joyful penance" than we encounter in Lent, it's penitential nonetheless. So if you've let the last three weeks fly by without any penitential practices, go to it. It's not that hard. For example, any one of us can delay eating a couple of minutes after saying grace (mortification); or maybe you skip a meal or two in the coming week (fasting). These may challenge some more than others, but here's one that - just a guess - likely challenges all of us: charity. Be charitable to all comers this week. Everyone.
OK, maybe you slip up once or twice (or thrice!), but the attempt will be worth your effort. Our Lord notices everything, of course, so taking a good shot at being charitable to everyone with whom you come in contact won't go unnoticed, even if that annoying co-worker doesn't appreciate your extraordinary patience. But don't do it for a spiritual pat on the head. Do it because you love Him. Remember that the baby in the Manger will someday suffer and die for you because He loves you. Remember that He knew His ultimate fate when He condescended to come and live among us, as one of us, fully human, even as He remained the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Remember that His entire life was lived as an example for us to follow such that we would know - beyond the shadow of a doubt - just what we need to do in order to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Just thinking of all this, even if for only a few minutes, will inspire us to increase our fervor this last week of Advent, don't you think?
Perhaps these last three weeks have flown by and you've hardly noticed any difference in your daily life as you go about your business. It's been just another three weeks in a busy year. For whatever reason, there's hardly been any distinction between the first three weeks of Advent and any other three weeks during 2016. Even if you've been doing some shopping and decorating, it's all been just another item on your To Do list. The "Spirit of Christmas" just hasn't penetrated your typical daily activity, whether in your thoughts or feelings, in any significant way.
Well, you've still got 6 whole days (and part of today) ahead to make some holes in your typical daily activity. Besides those little mortifications and a bit of fasting to observe the penitential, how about some special prayers to encourage the joyful? We've talked in the last two weeks about a favorite aspiration: "Divine Infant of Bethlehem, come and take birth in our hearts!" There's still time to pray this lovely aspiration, one I've found always helps me remember that it's Advent, one that never fails to play its part it's part in helping me prepare my heart to receive Jesus on Christmas Day.
So for those of us with some sort of an Advent "deficit," it's time to step back, take a deep breath, and plunge into this Holy Season. While it's certainly true that the road is narrow for those who would be saved, it's also true that Our Lord's mercy knows no bounds for those of us who turn away from sin and gaze upon the Babe in the Manger, returning Love with love. He Who whipped the merchants and money changers in the Temple is also the Good Shepherd. He who paints a fearsome picture of the Day of Judgment when mankind will be divided into those who forsook Him and those He will welcome into His Kingdom makes clear in no uncertain terms that, "He shall feed His flock like a shepherd...Come unto Me all ye that labor."
Here now a beautiful expression of our Shepherd's mercy and love from Handel's Messiah. The lovely voice of Barbara Bonney singing a flawless and heart-felt rendering of this great piece with the Frieburg Baroque Orchestra virtually guarantees you an increase in Christmas spirit. Take a few minutes to watch and listen and be carried away to Bethlehem to await His coming.
Diving Infant of Bethlehem
Come and take birth in our hearts!
Comments