Advent Preparation
Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from December 02, 2007
"Make no provisions for the desires of the flesh." Romans 13:14
I listened recently to a woman lament about the age. She remembered the Christmases of her childhood when the gift at Christmas was a stocking packed with candy and nuts. It made her perfectly happy. She felt that this would not get close to satisfying the expectations of today's children. She believes they have lost something along the way. Not only children, all of us find our lives become increasingly cluttered these upcoming weeks before Noel. The church offers a counter to our culture. We are called to wait, to give, and to make peace.
"Wait! Wait on the Lord." Take time out from the frenzy of consumerism to stop and light a candle. Stand with your family at the wreath and pray. God may have a Word for us. Read a passage from the Advent reflection Booklet that the parish provides and allow Him to speak to our hearts. Come to our Advent prayer service on Tuesdays and join us for an hour of meditation away from the busyness and the phones.
In a time when our trees are surrounded by our presents, the Parish Giving Tree abounds with gifts not for ourselves but for others. Giving takes many forms; a present for a needy family, a donation to the homeless through Catholic Charities, a letter we write to legislators to seek rental assistance to prevent homelessness, a card for a child in Africa or Haiti, our weekly envelope. Generosity, not accumulation, marks our Advent preparation.
The scriptures speak to us of PEACE. Last weekend we celebrated Jesus as King of Kings. He comes at Christmas as the Prince of Peace. Isaiah proclaims, "They shall beat their swords in to ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation will not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again." Isaiah 2:4
I read lately in Foreign Affairs magazine about a manual for counter insurgency developed by the US Marines. I will summarize the gist of it. If an insurgent is shot, three more will take his place. If you build a road, at first they will continue to snipe, then they will use it to bring produce to market or bring a pregnant mother to the hospital. You make friends.
Forty years ago Paul VI in Progressio Populorum, offered a similar message: Development is the new name for peace. Of course he was referring to sustainable development. If every one had a car, the world would burn up. Consider if the energy and resource put into warfare were redirected to Marshall plans for the elimination of poverty and diseases such as AIDS. Surely it would bring greater security. The words of Isaiah are poetry for a Christmas card. They are also practical advice.
While we await the nations' disarmament, we need to disarm ourselves. At our Advent reconciliation service our church will engage itself in the work of making peace in our families and relationships.
Let us welcome Emmanuel during an advent season of waiting, giving and peace-making.
