RBWords - Volume 22 - Number 11: November 2009
Something to Think About
Yesterday was the First Sunday of Advent! When Advent starts on the weekend after Thanksgiving, it often takes me by surprise! This year I wasn\'t permitted to be surprised because I had to go to San Antonio in the afternoon to present an “afternoon retreat” to the parishioners of St. Benedict Parish, where I once helped out occasionally on the weekends when I lived in San Antonio the last time (2003-2005). The liturgical season of Advent is often overshadowed in the strongly Latino culture of San Antonio by the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12) and the “Posadas” (a reenactment of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem) in the week or so leading up to Christmas. Advent almost has to shout to make itself heard! For so many of the rest of us, Advent is accidental rather than intentional. It just happens. But, we can make it happen for ourselves – an “intentional Advent”.
What I offered to the parishioners at St. Benedict\'s was a set of four questions to ask themselves as they prepare to celebrate Christ\'s birth. These questions are based on what we Dominicans call the “Four Pillars” of our life: prayer, study, community and ministry. I turn these into questions: How am I praying, learning, loving, serving?
There is so much richness in the Catholic tradition of Advent to challenge us on all four areas. When we sing (perhaps too much?) “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” we are voicing a prayer that is centuries old. If we celebrate the five joyful mysteries of the Rosary, we are offered much of what Advent is about! The hectic nature of the season sometimes leads people simply to pray that they can survive the holidays! We can do better than that. If nothing else, when we take out that crib set from wherever it spends the rest of the year, we can think about each figure as we put it in its chosen location.
We can learn by giving attention to the scriptures for the season, especially those from the prophets! We can educate ourselves about the symbols (Advent wreath, Jesse tree, etc.) of the season. One week before Christmas we can pray the “O Antiphons” that are part of Evening Prayer on each of the seven weekdays leading up to the feast.
We can love and serve better by considering the needs of so many others for whom this season will be anything BUT a season of joy! Those who have lost someone in death during the year or have lost their job or have ill health need our attention. Those who have no home or any food or means to celebrate at all offer us opportunities to love. Those with whom we have quarreled or have hurt us (or whom WE have hurt) offer the opportunity to give the most difficult gift of love: FORGIVENESS.
These four questions can help us prepare to enjoy an Advent and Christmas that we can make “intentional” and personal. IT\'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
It Has Been Said
I lay last night and knew not why I was sad.
“ \'Tis well with God, “ I said, “and he is the truth;
Let that content me.” \'Tis not strength, nor youth,
Nor buoyant health, nor a heart merry-mad,
That makes the fact of things wherein men life:
He is the life, and doth my life outgive;
In him there is no gloom, but all is solemn-glad.
From THE DIARY OF AN OLD SOUL by George MacDonald
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