“The greatest honor you can give Almighty God is to live joyfully because of the love God gives you.”
— St. Julian of Norwich
Last Sunday afternoon as our Steelers defeated the Bengals, 35-7, it was a joy to gather for our annual Christian Mothers Christmas Party at Junior’s Restaurant in Coraopolis. There were approximately 65 women and 10 men in attendance. There were no long speeches - just the blessing of gift of each other, good food, fellowship and friendship. As always Rudy Bolea out-does himself in hospitality with the lavishness of an extravagant festive banquet atmosphere!
I must confess, I joined the gathering a bit late as it was tough to tear myself away from the football game. It reminded me of the 9th Bishop of Pittsburgh, Vincent Martin Leonard (1969-1983), who would always say, “If you live in the city of Pittsburgh and want to serve the people well in faith, be mindful of their sports’ schedule and respect it!”
It was a joy to go from table to table, person to person, to see familiar and strange faces and greet all alike. I met people who were of different faiths. I met children and grandchildren whose presence graced the occasion. I met caretakers who provide help for certain women there. I met husbands who accompanied their spouses out of love.
As we shared stories around the table, I noticed that the Christian Mothers’ eyes were getting bigger as they spoke of their children, and widened even more when they spoke of their grandchildren! It is great to capture generations coming together, as we seek to help one another grow in God’s holiness, love, wisdom, joy, truth, goodness and grace.
One lady remarked, “I can’t believe it’s your 4th Christmas party with us. I look forward to the next one!” The author, Janice Maeditere said, “Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.”
Today, on this 3rd Sunday of Advent, we reach the midpoint of our observance of Advent. Traditionally this Sunday is called, “Gaudete Sunday,” meaning “rejoice.” As the priest dons rose-colored vestments, and the 3rd rose-colored candle is lit, so we share in anticipated joy of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas and our salvation.
John the Baptist heralds as the bearer of good news, chosen and sent by God to proclaim not only good news, but The Good News, Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. In his role as herald, John makes it perfectly clear that he is to announce Christ’s coming and call people to prepare their lives through repentance. There is no greater joy than to experience God’s forgiveness as we come back to life. We need to prepare a way for the Lord in our own hearts and lives as we rediscover our own need for redemption as individuals, as communities, as nations and as Church. If we examine our own lives, we can quickly see our great need for the saving, healing, and restoring intervention of He who is Emmanuel—God with us. The best way to welcome the coming of Christ is to turn from sin, do right and amend our lives.
John the Baptist’s voice cries out in the wilderness to an un-listening world and often times un-listening hearts, reminding them that repentance means changing to please the One who loves us into happiness. Once we admit our sin and de-activate the evil of its power, we are released from its bondage, and the stranglehold of death is no more.
God gives us the grace to perceive our sinful patterns in our lives and the humility to repent of them - to walk again in the light. Joseph Conrad, Polish born and current day English novelist, said, “Facing it, always facing it, that’s the way to get through. Face it.” Let’s face it, sin may give the appearance that in indulging we will find happiness, but it is counterfeit, superficial and in-authentic. Sin bring misery, pain, suffering, emptiness, loneliness and un-fulfillment. On the other hand, forgiveness bring joy, peace, integration, wholeness, happiness, hope and joy. Let us heed and hear the prophet’s cry to “Make straight the way of the Lord” by living righteous lives in truthfulness, honesty, and humility. Let us forsake the crooked paths of dishonesty, cheating and deceit.
Like the people who listened to the 6th century prophet Isaiah, or the people who listened to the last Old Testament prophet and the first New Testament prophet - John the Baptist - we must spend our Advent trying to remove all the obstacles that stand before us and the Lord’s return. May the Lord knock down every obstacle and roadblock in our hearts. May the Lord uproot the tangled web of our vices. May the Lord break the stranglehold of our addictions and ingrained habitual sins. May the Lord make a path of grace through our cluttered lives. May the Lord unburden us through the unnecessary baggage that we need deliverance from.
Opening up a highway for the Lord to come into our lives is a never ending process. The work of conversion is not just for an Advent season, but the work of a lifetime. Change is possible in all of our lives. Repentance in Greek is “metanoia” (a change of attitude, heart and outlook), which suggests “taking a second look,” “taking stock,” “recollection and renewal.” In the words of St. Louis de Montfort, “By Jesus Christ, with Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ, we can do all things.” As Christmas quickly approaches, let Christ’s redeeming work usher a “new era” in us by turning to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to recognize our sin, to turn from our sin and to turn back to God asking for forgiveness and mercy.
I encourage you to tune into EWTN each Sunday for Fr. Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V. from 8:00 PM to 8:45 PMas he speaks of the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. He is a masterful teacher who has taught the spiritual exercises for over 20 years. Last week’s episode #4 spoke of the desolations and consolations in our spiritual life. The Enemy uses desolations and God uses consolations. May the Lord grant us the consolations of joy this holy season of Advent.
"Come Lord Jesus, come!" — Rv. 22: 20
“Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion.” — The Talmud
