Just returned from Mass on the First Sunday of Advent. The Priest’s sermon presented the message clearly and with both humour and a serious tone. His sermon began right after the reading of The Gospels by saying with humour, “Are you prepared. Are you ready”? He wore a smile on his face, but that friendly tone shifted to a more serious expression of what he meant. Say you knew a day ahead that all the electricity in Ontario would not be available for one month. What would you do? Some of us called out “prepare”! He then tried to explain what someone would do if that electricity did not flow. This instructional sermon brought to mind the fact that human beings are often unprepared to simply prepare for an event they knew would happen in the future.
Those of us who live in the Caribbean or Florida should prepare for nasty weather come the hurricane season. If one lives in India, look out for the Monsoon Season. Should a person who builds a house in a flood plain have built the house on tall stilts? Being prepared is a lot of work, both mentally and physically. Yet many of us are lazy, complacent and simply uninterested in our own futures until an event forces the issue. Being prepared means investing time, money and effort that many of us don’t have, so other people may come by to help out. Our national exceptionalism may say to these charitable people, We can handle whatever Mother Nature is going to unleash.
Spiritually, if we are Christians, Advent calls upon us to always be prepared for the return of our Saviour, Jesus. Be prepared by being attentive, repenting for our wrongdoing, and participating in the Sacraments offered, such as confession. The question one is asked constantly is, “Are you ready, prepared,” to face your God? The Gospels tell us the Rapture will happen, and just as suddenly as a clap of thunder, many of us will no longer be on earth but with God. For those left behind, and there will be many, a life filled with struggles, challenges and spiritual questioning will follow. Will we be prepared? Are we willing to face our demons, our weaknesses and change our ways? Advent calls us to look within ourselves and the earth’s bitter reality by making a choice to be better. Believe in God. Believe in your fellow humans, neighbours, friends and those you don’t even know. The good Samaritan cares not what tribe a stranger comes from, but only that someone is in need. Folks, there are many in need of assistance, and an act of selfless charity means a great deal.
Henry Nouwen said, ” The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize Him at any moment in your life. Life is Advent, Life is recognizing the coming of The Lord”. A life time pursuit, finding God within other,s be they familiar or unfamiliar to you. Advent is Life!
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
[email protected]
