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Why does the Advent season seem to pass so quickly? Before you know it, we are celebrating Christmas. It seems to me, it is very much like our lives. We are born, we learn to walk, we go to school, and in a blink of an eye life is over.
I remember being at the bedside of a dear priest friend of mine who was dying. In fact, he asked me to pray that night that he would pass to the Lord because he was in such anguish and pain from his illness. He was only 67, but had been a priest for over 40 years. One of the last things he said to me was, “It has gone so fast. Life has passed by so, so fast!” I don’t know about you, but I can relate to what my friend said. It seems that every day passes quickly, every week, month, year. I hear others make the same comment—where has the summer gone or where has the year gone? The older we get, the faster time seems to pass.
In some ways, I think it is the good Lord trying to remind us to use wisely the time we have in this life. Think of how much time we waste on worry, sin, silly arguments, and petty disputes, regrets and grudges! We can waste our lives away being about all these things that actually rob us of life instead of being about that which generates life, namely love. Love is most powerfully experienced when it is freely given. One of the greatest powers of love is the act of forgiveness.
John the Baptist appeared in the desert to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. The condition for being prepared for his coming is reform and reconciliation. We all have important work to do before we die. Today is the day to take seriously the call of the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord in our lives. How do we do that? First of all, we do it by not putting off what we know we must do. Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive? Is there a grudge you need to let go of? Is there a person from whom you need to ask forgiveness?
Detachment is key to the spiritual life. What are you attached to? If it is anything less than Christ, you are in Big Spiritual Trouble. Many of us don’t even realize that we are attached to sin, grudges, material things—even holy material things like medals, statues or churches. But, these things can also get in the way of our attachment to Christ!
Take the time, this day, this week, this Advent and ask the Lord what you need to do to prepare to meet him as Lord and Savior. Deep within your heart, he will answer you and you will know what you need to do. Then, don’t delay, have the faith, the courage, beg God for the grace to act! The devil will tell you, you have plenty of time, but John the Baptist will scream in your ear:
“Reform now! Make haste. Don’t wait! The Lord, yes, the Lord is coming!”
On December 8th, we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Masses will be at 9:00 am in St. Vitus Church (live streamed), Noon in St. Mary Church,
and 7:00 pm in St. Camillus Church.
God love you,