The 3rd Sunday of Advent is referred to as Gaudete Sunday, as we move closer to Christmas, anticipating the joy and celebration of the birth of Jesus, the new Adam. The readings for this Sunday (Isaiah 61:1-2A, 6-7; Responsorial Psalm – Luke 1:46-50, 53-54, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, and John 1:6-8, 19-28) call upon us to embrace and rejoice in the Spirit of the Lord. What does that look like? How do you know when you’re embracing and rejoicing in the Spirit of the Lord?
In the Gospel, John the Baptist is asked by priests and Levites, “Who are you?” (John 1:22). Part of John’s response is, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” (John 1:23). Reflecting on John’s response, what do you imagine it was like for him? How would you respond to the question, “Who are you?” In what ways would your response be the same or different depending on who asks the question?
What’s it like to ponder that the same God who created John and inspired his words and actions, desires to do the same for all of us?
Continuing to consider this, in what places or situations do you desire your words and actions to be influenced more by God? What are the places or situations where you experience peace, joy, and a sense that your desire and God’s are united?
Prayer: Gracious and merciful Lord, over the course of the next few weeks, with all the busyness of the Advent and Christmas Season, help us to be open to your inspiration and to cooperate with the glue that is your Grace, so that we might discover that there is joy in each moment.
“Man is born broken; he lives by mending. The grace of God is the glue.” – Eugene O’Neill
A star found residing where it was placed. Holding still and quiet.
Its edges beveled, dimensions on display, highlighting different shades, color throughout the various times of day.
Sometimes crystal clear, what’s behind showing through. And other times, transforming as a show of what’s reflected on it.
A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’” – Mark 1:3
In what situations do you sense facets of your faith more strongly? In what areas do you desire to deepen or to be more in touch with your faith? In what ways is your faith multidimensional?
As the fire kicks in, it dances about. And the smoke? It fades away. All attention now To the brilliance Of its flames.
No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you working such deeds for those who wait for him. – Isaiah 64:3
The readings for the First Sunday of Advent call upon one and all to watch and wait… to pay attention. However, it can be very challenging to take heed to this message, especially at a time of year when everything is busier and there is pressure to fit more and more into whatever time one has. So, what are some ways that one can wade through the sea of distractions that float their way this Advent?
O God, restore us; light up your face and we shall be saved. – Psalm 80:4
First, get in touch with your desire for this Advent Season. Make time for some solitude and prayer so that you can get a better sense of your heart’s deepest wishes. What are your priorities? What are ways you can continue to pray and draw inspiration through each day of Advent?
God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. – 1 Corinthians 1:9
Second, consider how you can be more intentional in moving through the season with your desires and an openness to God’s presence. What are you willing to invest with regards to time and space? Remember, more is not necessarily better. Also, the attitude with which one approaches a commitment, or a task, will affect the experience. So, try to take your coat off and put your bags down at the door, so to speak, as you enter. Take some time to unload and put aside whatever you’re coming from or holding onto so that you can receive whatever may be awaiting you.
Show us Lord, your love; and grant us your salvation. – Psalm 85:8 (Gospel Acclamation)
Before moving on, spend some time reflecting on the goodness of God. Recount your experience of God’s love (through prayer, nature, art, a meaningful exchange, etc.) over the past weeks and months. Allow yourself some time to bask in the grandeur of God.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’” – Mark 13:37
Third and last, Jesus instructed his disciples to keep watch and to be ready. It can be easy to take this as a directive and make it our own, but no matter how determined one might be, the risk becomes leaving God at the direction, and therefore missing the intent. This is not a solo endeavor! There is no way to effectively watch and be ready, without the grace of God.
This brings us back to desire! Scripture tells us that it is God who has chosen us (John 15:16). The season of Advent is an opportunity to remember and pay homage to this. It is an invitation to keep striving to avail oneself to the grace of God, not only to keep the faith, but to also to proceed with a willingness and openness to God’s ways and to grow in faith.
May we all use this Advent to choose, and keep choosing, God.
It seems that human nature tends toward comparison and judgment along with practices that help one to “find their place” and obtain some level of comfort. However, although these skills might be helpful in deciphering and navigating the world around us, they can also lead to complacency, and a sedentary or fixed way of seeing and being. The readings for the Solemnity of Christ the King offer an opportunity to reflect upon choices, judgments, and viewpoints, and to consider by what or whom they are influenced. Or, in other words, to contemplate who is leading you.
In the First Reading (Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17), the deep level of care and protective nature of God is expressed.
“Thus says the Lord God: I myself will look after and tend my sheep.” (v. 11).
The passage continues to describe God’s desire to rescue, find, and heal as well as God’s promise to make judgments and course correct those who are wrong or have gone astray.
How do you feel about this notion? What’s it like to leave the judgment and course correction to God? Are there areas in which it is more of a challenge than others? Spend some time in prayer asking for guidance around replacing judgments that veer away from God’s desire for you and for a clearer vision of what role God desires for you.
In the Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 23:1-3,5-6), we stay with the image of the Shepherd who takes care of and provides for his sheep. The psalmist writes of the Lord as refreshing their soul, guiding them in right paths, and blessing them so that “goodness and kindness follow” them. The psalmist then says, “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come” (v. 6).
What do you think they mean? What do you imagine that would be like? How would it feel? In what places or situations have you experienced similar feelings?
“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” (v. 1).
In what ways do you feel inspired when you imagine God’s loving presence permeating all experiences and capable of extending beyond all that might otherwise be a barrier?
Looking to the Second Reading (1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28), St. Paul writes about Christ the King who helps us to life by helping us to overcome death, in its various forms, while at the same time leaving the ultimate judgment to God.
“then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.” (v. 24-26, 28).
What happens when you think about Jesus, to whom God subjected all things, handing the kingdom back to God (v. 24) and subjecting Himself to God? What’s it like for you to let go of something that you have obtained or been given? Where is God in that decision or process?
Now turning to the Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46), Jesus talks to his disciples about the final judgment and separation between sheep (the righteous) and goats. Notice how the criteria that Jesus describes are all things that can be done to take care of and protect others.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” (v. 35-36).
There is always more than just “I,” “me,” and “mine,” and part of striving for the Kingdom of God is not only to know this, but also to live in a way that shows respect, dignity, appreciation, and care for others. Also, it’s not about being perfect or being able to amass a long list of service to others, but rather about focusing efforts on being in service of God by surrendering one’s heart and mind to being under the influence, united with, and led by God.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. – Ps 23:1
There’s the saying that attitude is everything, and there is no denying the importance and impact of attitude on behavior. The Gospel for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mt 25:14-30 shown below), provides an example of how attitude can affect choices. In this passage, referred to as the Parable of the Talents, Jesus tells the story of three servants and how they handled the possessions their master entrusted to them while he was away.
To start, we learn that the master gave each servant a different amount based upon their ability. This suggests that he had a sense of what they were capable of and perhaps a desire not to give them more than what they might be able to handle. But also, more importantly, the master gave something of value to each of them, allowing them room for growth. He would not have done that if he did not see potential in each of them.
Looking at how each servant responded, we can see that the ones who were entrusted with more (five and two talents respectively) produced more and the one entrusted with the least (one talent), produced the least. It can be tempting to look at this situation, and the master’s response upon his return, as a simple matter and to judge the servant who buried the talent instead of growing it as weak for allowing his actions to be driven by fear. However, there is more to this story than what is on the surface.
Think about the characteristics of Jesus and the way that he responds to people. He listens, he notices, he allows people to be who they are, and where they are in their journey, while at the same time loving or valuing them, and encouraging them toward growth and living in the light. There is always a path toward shedding whatever it is that is holding someone back from becoming more and more authentic as one created in the image of God.
When considering this passage in the light of attitudes, we can easily jump to a conclusion that two of the servants had what might be thought of as a healthier attitude and did something productive with what was entrusted to them. While on the other hand, the third servant focused on the unjust ways of his master, resulting in a poor attitude and therefore a lackluster performance. What about the master though?
What was the master’s attitude in this parable? At the beginning, it is implied that he saw less potential or expected less from the third servant. Also, upon his return, how did he receive the third servant’s choice and the reasons behind it?
The third servant says, “Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.” All the master seems to take in is the fact that the servant did not multiply what was entrusted to him. And his reaction to that is to assign the servant even less value (“You wicked, lazy servant!”) and to condemn him to darkness. How might his response have been different if he was able to consider the impact of his ways, and the fear it created in the servant?
Although the servant didn’t, at the time, possess the wherewithal to multiply what was given to him, he at least recognized its importance and preserved it. His fear held him back, but he did do something. It seems the master couldn’t appreciate that. If you think about Jesus and his interactions with people, in what ways does the master’s words and actions reflect the attitude and behavior of Jesus?
While the Parable of the Talents might be considered in terms of “what one does with what is given to them is important,” it can also serve as an invitation to consider roles and the attitudes that can accompany them. As you consider your own life, in what situations might you be one of the servants who multiplied the talents? the servant who was given one talent? the master? Reflect upon your demeanor in these roles. How, if at all, does your attitude shift in these different situations? Where is the light of God and in what ways is Jesus present to, and in, you?
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one– to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'” – Matthew 25:14-30
Reading Scripture it’s not too hard to envision the Pharisees and scribes as having a persona of lofty authoritarians who are learned, serious, and on the surface appearing to be so proper. Yet, Jesus points out that their actions do not align with their words. In the Gospel for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells the crowd and the disciples to observe and do as the Pharisees and scribes say, but do not act as they do. Do not hold down or seek to elevate yourself above others. Jesus then goes on to say, “you have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.” You have but one Father, but one master, Christ, and that the greater glory is not in being served or glorifying yourself, but rather in being of service to others, and therefore of service to God.
Reflecting on this Gospel and considering other Scripture passages as well, it may seem obvious that the Pharisees and scribes were not about what they proclaimed. Perhaps they fell victim to the notion that they had already arrived, were afraid of losing what they had attained, or some other thing that shrunk their hearts and made them sterner with others, and lax in their own prayer and practices, making them less likely to be inspired by God and more likely to be misguided and led astray.
Despite this, the actions of the Pharisees and scribes don’t make them worthless or deserving of being canceled. We can hold them accountable but must remember they are still part of God’s creation. They also need love, mercy, and prayers.
Jesus says to observe and listen to what they say. Maybe he’s reminding us that God can still work through them. Their transgressions are not bigger than God.
Praying with this passage brought to mind an instance from grade school, in my 2nd grade classroom, where being orderly was of the utmost importance to the teacher, most especially when it came to the inside of a student’s desk. All the students knew what was expected, and it seemed that all of us really tried to meet this expectation. However, there were a couple of students who had a very hard time with being organized. So, one day, the teacher was walking around the classroom, teaching a lesson, and without warning, flipped and dumped out the contents of this student’s desk, startling everyone, to say the least, and sending books, paper, pencils, and so on, all over the place. The student was then yelled at for being so disorganized, the teacher turned the desk back upright, and told the student to pick everything up, and put it back in the desk, neatly. The student, who was normally quiet, shrunk even more, their cheeks turned red, and tears were coming down their face as they began doing as they were told. The rest of us 7- and 8-year-olds, just sat there horrified. None of us dared to try to help the student for fear of what would happen if we did. It’s interesting how fear can interfere. It’s also interesting how judgment can be too.
When I think about this instance, in the light of this Gospel, I wonder, what was the point, or the lesson being taught that day? What made it so important that the inside of our desks be orderly, to the extent that a student who was trying their best and just being themself, be demeaned like that, and the room be made so disorderly, in efforts to obtain order? However, faith also calls me to hold and look at the entire picture, including before and beyond that instance and to recall that I also had what one would call a lot of positive experiences in that classroom.
Looking at the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus points out a disconnect not only between their words and their actions, but also in their hearts. He cautions the crowd, and us, to not be fooled or distracted toward self-serving ways. To not rely on external things, such as possessions or positions of authority, to gain good graces or a particular outcome, but rather to rely on the grace and guidance of God. Jesus is saying, if we’re going to be led by anybody or anything, or if we’re going to follow anybody or anything, first and foremost, let it be God.
But there’s more… humility.
When we think about this Gospel passage, it can be tempting to cast stones at the Pharisees and the scribes, thinking of ourselves as perhaps being far removed from them, especially in the “us” and “them”, divided times I which we live. Yet, in our certainty and in our knowing, we too can become susceptible to an attitude or posture that interferes and creates static, making us less receptive to being led by God, more likely for other things to come before, or in place of God, and making us less loving, compassionate, and forgiving.
It’s unlikely that the Pharisees and scribes set out to fall into a haze, becoming less aware, open, or able to continue learning through experiences, and blocked, at least at that time, from continually drawing closer to God. However, in certainties and in knowing about what ought to be, it can be easy to become closed off to what is, and the open, honest dialogue that helps us to know when we are moving toward a will that is not in alignment with God, and that is of disservice, rather than what is best.
“Humility is an attitude of honesty with God, oneself, and of all reality. It enables us to be at peace in the presence of our powerlessness and to rest in the forgetfulness of self.” – Thomas Keating
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” – Matthew 23:1-12
Leaning into Fall, the trees embrace the Essence of their nature. Season after season, year after year, who’s to say on time, or in time? Either way, waiting without edge, trusting in the beauty of Your time as you gently reveal the colors, so many colors, of Your way.
Beacon calling out to one and all alike, remember: life is but a spectrum, at its fullest and shining bright, when casting out the shadows, fears, and doubts. Your light so much stronger than the decay, rising up and out from far below.
It’s time to recognize again who we really are. So much alike, created to be different, but not with indifference or carrying any shades of hate. Loved into existence, the vision of Your eye. Side by side, each and every one of us are vessels of Your grace, and we all have a place.
Holy God, Most High Creator, hold us all together, unite us in Your heart… in our hearts.
Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life. – Phil 2:15d, 16a
From one thing to another A shade, or some truth survives. Perhaps hidden from plain view, But nonetheless existing, If only to be seen, picked, From underneath the rubble, Intertwined and wrapped around, Trying to conceal or blur, The hard lines and soft edges, Leading one to discovery. Aiming, always aiming high, To the place where feelings go To wash away thoughts unkind. Resting in the heart of One, Meeting up, then stepping out, Similar but not the same. Grateful for Your peace and love, Amazing, so amazing, What can happen thru Your eyes. Though the winds may shift and change, The soul carries on its way, Steady in One who remains.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. – Psalm 23:1
Questions upon questions. Sitting still, or idly sitting? With, or at, each other? Whether picking, picked, or chosen, The answer is the same. Apples of God’s eye. Desire of desires.
Fruit bearing fruit, Fruit bearing with fruit. A breath of fresh air, A dose of patience, Perseverance too. From the heart of One To another, then another.
All searching for some peace, While time is fast escaping. All in One, One in all, History that is shared, Spirits called together. Even when far apart, Destiny is waiting.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another. – John 15:16-17
“The proof is in the pudding” is a familiar phrase when looking at or trying to assess a situation. Originally, this proverb was “The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” but over time words were dropped and it morphed into “The proof is in the pudding.” Either way, the intended meaning is that judgment is best based on one’s experience. This is not to say that the experiences of others should not matter, but rather that one’s own experience is a necessary component.
In the Gospel for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 21:28-32), Jesus tells the story of two sons and their response to their father’s request, “go out and work in the vineyard today.” There is the son who says yes, but then does not follow through and the son who says no, but then changes his mind and does as his father requests. One of the ways we can look at this parable is to see it as a reminder that it’s never too late to change one’s mind or attitude and for one’s actions to follow suit. Going a little deeper, there is always an invitation to pay closer attention to our words and actions, and what goes into them. Oftentimes, we can miss or ignore God’s will, but with openness to something different than our initial response, we can overcome missteps.
Thinking about the two sons, in addition to sharing a father who made the same request of each of them, they are in the same place, at the same time. They share history and their words and actions, their choices, are adding or detracting in the present. Part of what they have in common is that they share space and, whether knowingly or not, they are helping to shape the direction of the future.
What is influencing their choices? And how does time affect them and their ability to be in tune with their internal influences?
In times where opinions are more widely and loudly expressed than ever and thrown out into the universe by all kinds of media, it can be easy to defer taking time to consider all things and to form fully informed personal opinions. However, fully informed personal opinions that include some sort of firsthand experience are perhaps more important than ever. And while impatience seems to rule the world and jam-packed schedules can make it more and more tempting to move through daily life on sound bites and to rush to judgment on fragmented information, that often opens the doors for outside influences to hold more weight than they deserve, and for one to be distracted and swayed in a direction that is less than.
To fully taste or experience the pudding requires taking time to ingest, and digest, it. It’s interesting that Jesus starts the parable of the two sons with the question, “What is your opinion?” What’s it like to consider Jesus as wanting to know your opinion? Not just in a surface kind of way, but deep down and in the nitty-gritty details.
How are you inspired by the thought that Jesus values both you and your fellow human beings in terms of thoughts, feelings, and experiences? In what ways do you ask Jesus for his opinion?
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir, ‘but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.” – Matthew 21:28-32
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