Advent is a time for preparing and waiting. But, sometimes our spiritual preparations get put aside by baking, cleaning, decorating, shopping, etc. That’s been my schedule lately and I’ve had to work hard to carve precious time for Holy Mass, prayer and reflection.
Despite all the busyness of these days, I want to share ideas from Saturday’s (December 5, 2015) Holy Mass. Father’s homily gave me some food for thought and I would to build on those thoughts. The Gospel reading was:
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd….
Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, ‘Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons…. (Matthew 9:35-36, 10:1, 5-8)
In the past, I always placed the bulk of the responsibility of curing the sick, raising the dead, etc. on the shoulders of the Twelve disciples. On Saturday, Father told us that Jesus is sending us out into the world with the same instructions. Wow!
How can we cure the sick? Well, first let’s look at who exactly is “the sick”. As you know, sickness is not only physical ailments but also emotional and spiritual illness. During the holiday season many people grow unhappy. Sadly, the twinkle of Christmas lights often rankle the realty of personal losses. We remember past Christmases when we were with family and friends who are no longer with us. We think of our childhood Christmases and how our parents made the day special. However, some people may not have warm childhood memories but instead remember bleak and lonely holidays.
Let’s move to the “dead”. These people, in my opinion, are those that feel hopeless. They are drowning in loneliness. Perhaps their lives have made them bitter, angry or hardened their hearts. We might also find those who are deeply sorrowing the death of loved one among the dead. Their sadness won’t let them go beyond the cold and hard pain of grief. The only warmth they feel are their tears rolling down their cheeks.
The lepers could be those among us who have lived in the shadows of society. Could these be immigrants who have come to our country illegally? Or perhaps they are people who live unhealthy or immoral lifestyles. They may know that their lifestyle is not acceptable to most of society so they stay on the fringes of our communities. Among the lepers, we might also find those who are unable to forgive themselves for their past transgressions. They see themselves as unclean and unfit to be with the rest of humanity.
So how can we help? By showing that we care for the other person and acknowledge them as a human being and child of God. Here are few suggestions:
- Say “good morning”. I am always amazed at how many people don’t say “good morning”.
- Make time to be with a lonely friend. Take them to dinner. Drive around together and see Christmas lights. Go for a coffee.
- Give a stranger a smile. Who knows your smile may be the only smile she gets that day.
- Call that older family member who lives far away.
- Call that friend or acquaintance mourning the death of a loved one.
- Drop a box of cookies at a fire station or nursing home.
- Write a note to that friend who you haven’t seen in years.
- Work hard to make your home a place of tranquility.
- When you say you will do something, do it.
- When you ask someone how they are doing, wait for them to answer and really listen to them.
- Donate used clothing, not ragged clothes though. Did you know 23.8 billion pounds of used clothing is put into U.S. landfills each year?
- Next time you’re standing in the checkout line, waiting to pay for your groceries or waiting to order your drink at a coffee shop, offer to let the person behind you go in front of you.
- Clean up after yourself.
- Be courteous to everyone around you when you’re in a hurry in public.
- Tell you mail carrier “thank you”.
Yes, Advent is a time of waiting and anticipating. By doing little acts of goodness for others, perhaps we can ease the pain in people’s lives or help lead them out of the shadows and into the Light of the World. Then, the Good Shepherd’s heart will be moved by seeing that we have embraced His instructions to go out into the world and proclaim that the “Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Art: Poussin, Nicolas. The Healing of the Blind of Jericho. 1650. Oil on canvas. Musée Du Louvre, Paris, France.