Be Watchful at all Times in Advent

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I was happy to hear that some stores closed for Black Friday and even one store had its shopping cart closed, which did not stop others from buying $2.7 billion of goods that day.  During the same time Pope Francis was visiting one of the largest slums outside of Nairobi, Kenya where sewage flows in the streets and drinkable water is non-existent.  The crowds that came to see him that day were staggering; they could not believe that he would go to such a place to see them.
Truly we can see the need to lead more simple lives in this time of Advent which began this past Sunday.  I would like to speak on the virtue or habit of simplicity during these weeks of Advent.  Simplicity means freedom from complexity.  The Apostle Nathanael is described as one who has no guile, no complexity; he is a simple person.  What you say is what you get, one would say today.  A more simple life gives me a lot of freedom; freedom from being a slave to what others think of me, not being able to be myself.
Simplicity is a grace.  It is very attractive.  It is a gift, a favor that God gives.  Great companies have a simple strategy or concept.  Take a look at Amazon or Southwest Airlines and their strategy is simple, straight forward.  Many parishes are simplifying themselves and getting back to the basics of announcing Jesus Christ.  If you see that you need this habit, especially at this time of year, what should you do?  Ask for it.  Make it a discipline in your life.
The Gospel of Luke says be vigilant, be watchful at all times and pray.  Advent is a time of waiting for the Lord.  The first part of this season is to remind us of his Second Coming, and then from December seventeen to Christmas the focus is the immediate preparation for Christmas.
Prayer is the way to make simplicity a discipline in your life.  A disciple of Christ is called to pray.  Invite God into your preparation for Christmas.  You cannot do this on the fly.  Make a plan.  Go to Mass every day or a few days a week.  Many Christians rise earlier during these days to wait for the Lord.  Our parish website will be sending you some points from Scripture and some thoughts for prayer each weekday morning in Advent to help you.  (You can encourage others to sign up for them.)  If you and I are faithful to this discipline our Christmas will be different.  Let us ask Jesus Christ to cut through the complexities of life.
The first Christmas was very simple.  Our lives can be simple.  Develop this habit of prayer and you will truly enter this season of Advent.  You can cast aside the distractions of the world and learn to focus on the essentials.
Some of you know Sister Marilyn Minter who is doing a mission in Haiti.  She gave a Lenten Mission here some four years ago, just as Fr. Doss and I arrived.  She is a Felician Sister and very dynamic.  Our parish will tithe and give her mission ten percent of what is given to St. Joe’s for Christmas.

Subscribe Now To Our Daily Email

We respect your email privacy