“To order one’s life properly, one must always think of being able to end it with a peaceful conscience.”
— St. Nicholas Von Flue
Today marks the beginning of our Advent 2011. This will be a very different one as we begin with the Roman Missal Edition III with the changed translation of the Mass. In any change it takes patience and what better season to master the virtue of patience than the holy season of waiting, hoping, expecting, longing for the coming of the Messiah.
In the preface to Elizabeth O’Connor’s book, Search for Silence, N. Gordon Crosby writes, “The one journey that ultimately matters is the journey into the place of stillness deep within oneself. To reach that place is to be at home; to fail to reach it is to be forever restless.” Advent is a time to pause, to ponder, to pray, to prioritize and to have a perspective. Sometimes our secular and commercial world can drown out such a posture. Our culture breeds:
- instantaneous results versus self-restraint
- immediate gratification versus mortification
- hyper-activity versus stillness
- hurry-sickness versus patience
- mental chaos versus self-composure
- self-pursuit versus self-emptying (kenosis)
- injuries versus restored relationships
- violence versus birthing-love
- gloomy discouragement versus radiant hopefulness
- rampant infidelity versus commitment
- self-absorption versus self-transcendence
- psychic exhaustion versus integrated togetherness
Recently I was called to Caring Heights Nursing Facility in Moon Township to anoint an 83 year-old woman named Rose. Her husband Carmen resided with her there at Caring Heights. This couple was married for 65 years and the family kept vigil for her in prayer. Our Pastoral Assistant, Jim Crable, sang Ave Maria and offered prayers with the family as she was released from this earthly limited existence to her eternal reward with God. The family commented that their parents were like two intertwined souls, devoted, centered, and committed to one another’s well being, growth and holiness. It was a powerful experience to see such enduring love. In such a power-less moment, we felt the power-full presence of the living God.
In all of our lives, we need some center of worship, devotion or adoration to whom we give ourselves over. Since we were created in the image and likeness of God, we come from God and we are destined to return to God. However, sometimes addictions can be short-circuits of our journey when we insert another person or object, other than God, for our centering, worship and devotion. This substitute for God in fact is a false-god and leads us into the practice of idolatry. One can de-center through such substitutes as: shopping, partying, unhealthy relationships, workaholism and greed. It’s easy to get off track, to lose purpose and direction, pulling us away from our authentic path which leads to freedom, fulfillment and promised future. We look to the holy season of Advent as the Church in her wisdom gives us guidance, affirmation and even correction when we are off-track in order that we seek to stay attached to Jesus Christ.
This season calls us for our heightened spiritual antenna and to exercise a regular self-critical vigilance. We must review our lives in the light of the Word of God and actively engage in the Church as the Body of Christ. Advent is a pause, a break, a four-week centering on Who we adore and what we’re devoted to and what is the purpose of our lives — to be a shared gift blessing and grace to others’ journey to God. I like to think of all the faith—companions who have been light to me on my path whose faith, witness, example and service have illuminated my path.
During this extended Thanksgiving weekend, I’m grateful that two of my brothers and their two daughters are visiting Mom and I in Pittsburgh. As I know you share this cherished and treasured time with your loved ones, may we be centered on the blessing of faith, family and friends. I thought you’d enjoy this Thanksgiving meditation in counting your blessings.
Thanksgiving
O My God,
Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in
ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless thee for the soul thou has created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigor,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.
