Andrea Schaufler
Happy December everyone! The countdown to Christmas has begun! In 25 days we will celebrate an event that is so sacred and special to us as Christians, we will literally spend the next 24 days getting ready for it. The shopping is started (or completed) and the purchased packages are wrapped, tagged and bagged before being placed under a festively decorated tree. We listen to carols on the radio until we are hearing “Jingle Bells” in our sleep. Cards are selected and mailed, parties are planned, wardrobe is chosen and food is assembled in preparation for the events that lay ahead. And although these four weeks may feel like a lifetime to the youngest among us, we know how quickly the time will fly by. Christmas will be here before we know it and we have to be ready for it. We tell ourselves we have to get it right.
While it is easy to get caught up in all of the holiday reverie, sometimes I wonder why we do it. We don’t get extra credit for our piety during the Advent/Christmas season. Jesus isn’t going to ask for a copy of our holiday photos in order to evaluate how well we celebrated His birthday and let’s face it…He’s not going to ask to taste our holiday ham. In fact, in today’s gospel, He actually warns against the undo holiday stress. He tells his followers not to lose sight of the big picture –especially when they are living in the moment. He tells them to prepare for Him every minute of every hour of every week in every month rather than falling all over ourselves a few times each year. He points out the pitfalls of “partying until you puke” and the punishing hangover that will undoubtedly follow when we fail to heed His words. Over the next four weeks we will make our lists and check them twice, but when the season is over, are we more naughty than nice?
Do we remember that the gift of the Christ child and the promise of His return is the greatest of God’s presents to us? Do we celebrate His presence every day and pray for His return or do we put him back in the box with the other symbols of the season when we take the decorations down? Do we go through all of the motions at this holy time with the idea that Jesus knows what is in our hearts or do we wear our hearts on our sleeve and keep Christmas alive the other 364 days of the year. (365 if it’s a leap year…no, I didn’t forget about that.)
In today’s gospel, Jesus gives us permission to temper our excitement, but He does not give us a break. He wants us to await his arrival with intention…but not a flashy show. Those who seek to create the perfect Christmas often wind up disappointed, but those who remember the reason for EVERY season will find their lamp will burn even brighter through this period of light.
Today’s readings for Mass: RV 22: 1-7; PS 95: 1-2, 3-5, 6-7AB; LK 21:34-36.
