Now that we’re in the holy season of Advent, with 24 days this year to prepare for Christ’s Mass, I had wanted, three weeks ago, to suggest that we don’t give any presents this year for Christmas, because I heard that, years ago, Bishop Gary Gordon suggested no presents at St. Mary’s Parish in Chilliwack, and everyone remembered that Christmas because there was less materialism!
However, I have to modify this suggestion for three reasons: 1) For some people, giving and receiving gifts is their love language; 2) We’re having a Christmas market sale next Saturday! 3) I recently suggested to a young man that, if he’s serious about getting married, he should dress better so as to communicate that he means business—this is something I’ve suggested for years, but I told this man to buy a new suit for Christmas!
So, whether it’s no presents or fewer presents, the point is to focus on Jesus and what He’s offering this Christmas, and be more intentional in loving others! I’m hoping this Advent season will be about service of Jesus and service of others.
Jesus says in the Gospel today, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life [You know what? Many Decembers, our hearts are weighed down with distractions, sins, and worries—they seem harmless but pull us away from Christ. It’s a materialistic time of year, the darkest time of the year, a busy time, and, for some, it’s a lonely time of the year, so we may lose focus on Jesus], and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap” (Lk 21:34-35). The ‘day’ about which Jesus is talking is the day when He comes again to judge the living and the dead—it’s a trap only if we’re not ready for Him, but it’s beautiful news if we love Him as He loves us. That’s why He says, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (21:28). It will be good news because that will be the moment when there will be no more darkness, suffering, and loneliness; it will be the day of Jesus’ victory over evil. And, men, in the original Greek, ‘stand up and raise your heads’ literally means, ‘wear a good suit,’ indicating that we’re ready for Jesus’ coming, at Christmas and the moment of our death!
Next week, we’re going to meditate on preparing our souls for Christmas, but, today, we’re meditating on the external conditions that will prepare us for Christmas. Our physical posture should reflect our spiritual posture. Years ago, we talked about dressing ‘a step up’ for Sunday Mass as a sign of love, and many of us started doing it. So, if we were, for instance, to buy a new jacket for Sunday Mass, provided it’s done to remind us that Sunday Mass is the highlight of our week, then that’s a good Christmas action.
At the same time, our Christmas shopping needs to take into consideration that we can’t find perfect happiness here on earth. No one has ever said after opening all their presents, ‘Now my life is better.’ On the day of judgment, we will render an account to Jesus of how we spent His money.
The word ‘redemption’ means ‘to buy back.’ When we redeem a gift card, we get something back in exchange for the card. The word was used in ancient times to indicate a slave being set free: Someone would pay money to liberate that slave. Christmas reminds us that Jesus set us free from sin with the payment of His blood. Prior to 2,000 years ago, God had no blood to offer because He has no body; but He took on a body as a baby so that He could offer His blood in payment for us.
Since Jesus offers us the greatest gift, could we offer Him one present for His birthday? What would He want? He obviously wants our love, so how could we express it? Go to Confession? Help someone in need? Help our family? Visit Him in the chapel? One person said that her family has a birthday cake for Jesus.
Finally, Jesus says, “For it [the day of His coming] will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (21:35-36). Again, Jesus’ day of judgment could go either way for us, depending on loving Him in return for His love for us. Alertness means responding to God’s will and prayer gives us the strength we need to do it.
I remember hearing a story about someone saying that all they want for the present moment of their life is just a proper Christmas, which for them meant having peace, not needing to work, and being with family. If we knew that someone in our family had such a simple and pure desire, we’d respond. So, perhaps we could ask each other something like, ‘What would be the best Christmas present I could give you?’ If we’re alert, we may write them a card of gratitude or reconciliation, spend more time together, help with a project at home, take a short trip to a beautiful place.
Hopefully, this will be a beautiful Christmas: avoiding distractions, preparing for Jesus’ coming, serving others and Him, knowing that He’s already offered Himself to us as the greatest present.