Word to the Wise
Saturday, November 26, 2022 - Saturday in the 34th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rev 22:1-7 and Luke 21:34-36]"These words are trustworthy and true, and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits, sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon." "Behold, I am coming soon." Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book. [Revelation] "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. [Luke]
Today is the last day of the liturgical year! At Vigil Masses around the world, the celebration of the season of Advent will begin and the story of Jesus' life, death and resurrection will begin once more. I doubt any of my Beloved Congregation is into "carousing and drunkenness," but I fully believe all of us must deal with the "anxieties of daily life," which can gobble up our time and leave us barely aware of changing liturgical seasons. Purple vestments and prophetic utterance must compete with "Deck the Halls" and "Santa Claus is coming to town." The latter began to appear in October in some stores! Daily reports on the news concern how much money is being spent on Christmas shopping. But those of us in any of the "helping professions" are well aware that this is a difficult season to anyone who is experiencing a loss or deprivation.
Catholic tradition does its best to counter the secular Christmas juggernaut with prophetic scripture, purple vestments, Advent wreaths and Jesse Trees and the endless repetition of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!" But it is a challenging task. Thanksgiving hangover plus the end of the academic semester for students add to the normal anxieties of daily life. Right now, Bethlehem is a long ways off and a message of repentance and preparation is competing with commercial gospel messages.
Our own longing for spiritual, emotional and physical relief can be an indicator of the importance of this season. The story of a young pregnant Jewish woman bearing the salvation of the world inside her and almost at the end of his gestation can push us to greater efforts to join her in the anxious waiting. Yes! We can do the Advent wreaths and Jesse Trees and sing again and again, "O come, O come, Emmanuel" but remembering the actual people in the drama about to unfold may help us to transcend the anxieties of daily life in this season and be ready for the coming of the Messiah! AMEN