I went to a high school game recently that I was 100% certain that MY team was going to win. That’s because I attended the boys’ basketball game this past Tuesday with Zimmerman playing against Princeton and we have players from both teams that belong to our Church. So I was certain I would be happy with whomever won.
The problem was . . . where do I sit? Well it happened that at Zimmerman High School, the parents all sit on the same side of the gym, so I chose a spot almost right at half court. But I didn’t dare cheer for either team because as soon as I would, someone could see me then and assume that I was only cheering for that one team. I was rooting for both sides. But instead . . . . I didn’t clap, I didn’t shout, I didn’t smile (too often) . . . I simply watched.
Now, watching is not a bad thing, but I realized that when I ONLY watched I didn’t feel part of the game. I mean, we attend games to cheer, root and encourage . . . but if we don’t physically do anything it’s hard to feel the thrust or energy of the game. Instead we become observers and not participants.
Now in the gospel we are invited to be WATCHFUL, but that watching is more like a commend to “get ready” or “stay alert.” That is, “keep watchful, because at any time you may be invited to enter the game.”
The season of Advent is always an odd season, because it usually gets overshadowed by the glitz of Christmas. Many of us want to become more spiritual as we begin a new liturgical year, we even have good intentions for ourselves, but somehow we start feeling overwhelmed and exhausted in the very season that asks us to “slow down” and become more observant.
Throughout this new liturgical year, as a faith family of Christ Our Light, our theme is INVITATION. We want to focus on becoming more inviting in various ways, especially as we respond to Christ who does the inviting:
Next summer: Christ invites us to play
Easter: Christ invites us to serve
Lent: Christ invites us to change
Ordinary time (before Lent): Christ invites us to pray
Advent/Christmas: Christ us to prepare.
So it begins now . . . with watching our actions this time of year. Remember, we do not think ourselves into a new way of acting; we act ourselves into a new way of thinking. Become more watchful as to how you are preparing for Christ.
Maybe it involves praying more attentively. We have these little, blue “Advent Daily Prayer” books for you to take and use this season. [Hold a book up]
Maybe it involves giving of your heart more. For example, giving through our various programs like the Family Promise or the Christmas Giving Program. Or giving more of your heart, your time or your money.
Maybe it involves getting yourself “tuned up” by going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is one of the gems of the Catholic Church, but still be have many people who don’t participate in it.
I wonder why that is. I have a microphone here, maybe some of you could stand up and respond why people don’t receive the sacrament of Reconciliation very often. [Elicit responses]
We are invited to become more watchful and to stay alert. Again, we don’t think ourselves into a new way of acting; we act ourselves into a new way of thinking. How are you going to act this Advent?