Advent Thoughts-2009

A Saint for Advent
                                                     ~from The Mantle, Dec 5, 2008

"Let our greatest gift be our helping to bring light to the path
back to Jesus and His Church so that those we love will find the way."

 

           Tomorrow is the feast of St. Nicholas.  At our house, tonight we each leave a plate on the table with a slip of paper with our name.  St. Nicholas comes during the night and, if we have been good, he leaves us oranges and nuts.  The oranges are to remind us of the golden balls he is said to have tossed in the window of a man who was being forced to sell his daughters into slavery because he had no dowry to give them.  St. Nicholas taught us to find Jesus in the poor and the abused. His charity was always linked to justice.  He is a good saint for Advent. 

          Have you ever been wrongly accused of something?  As a child, I had been taught to respect both people and property.  I was spending a couple of days with an aunt and uncle.  My aunt had a rug hanging on the clothesline.  The little boy next door took a scissors and, over my objections (and perhaps to impress the new little girl in the neighborhood), he cut the fringe off that rug.  My aunt was certain that I had done so.  I remember her sitting me on her lap and saying, "MaryAnn, if you just tell me the truth, I will not punish you."  I kept repeating that it was not me.  But, she would not believe me.  I guess she mentioned it to the boy's mother, because later she came over with her little boy to apologize because he had confessed to his actions.  I was vindicated, but, somehow, the love I had held for my aunt was never quite the same.

          As adults we sometimes witness injustice.  Occasionally, we are victims of it.  How we react makes all the difference.  Lately I have watched a dear friend of the MMG suffer through unjust accusations.  I am grateful that my heartbroken friend continues to work quietly for the God's kingdom because this group is a beneficiary of his work.

          You and I may experience injustice in our relationships with prodigal loved ones for whom we pray.  When we learn they are not going to Mass, when they tell us they no longer believe or choose not to follow the practice of the Catholic Faith, our questions may be perceived as meddling, our words as preaching, our comments as nagging.  Worse yet, we may be seen as placing blame on our prodigal's spouse, or friend, etc.  Although we are concerned for their souls, we may be accused of injustice.  We may be victims of injustice.  We may even be guilty of injustice toward others.  What do we do about it?

          First of all we take a deep breath, calm down, and begin with prayer. 

          The next step is forgiveness.  Jesus tells us in Scripture we must forgive. Remember the saying, "Forgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other guy dies."  When we find it impossible to forgive we must take it to Jesus and tell Him, "Jesus, I really would like to forgive MaryAnn, but I just can't.  So, I would like to forgive her through you."  If we need to seek forgiveness, we must do so.  Again, if this is not possible, take it to Jesus.

          Then, we must decide on a course of action. Keep it wrapped in prayer.  Pray while you are considering what action to choose: Will it help to confront the situation openly?  Can it be resolved eventually by going about your normal life while treating all parties with love and respect?  Should you consider counseling for yourself with a priest or other professional?  Is it a situation from which you must disassociate yourself completely for the good of all concerned?  Hopefully, in relationships with our prodigals, the last choice will never be an option--although we may have to love and pray from afar for awhile.  Finally, continue to pray that the movement of God will become evident and peace and love will prevail.

          Let us pray, St. Nicholas, come to our aid.  Help us follow Jesus.  Help us to treat God's people with respect and love, especially those prodigals whom we love so dearly.  Also, help us to be kind to those they love.  If we do suffer injustice, help us to remember that we stand in a holy place--in the footsteps of He who was crucified on false charges.  Let us follow your example and find Jesus through prayer and to continue to love His people, no matter how we may be treated in this world.  Dear Saint Nicholas, help us remember that Advent is a time or preparation to celebrate the coming of Jesus.  Christmas is a feast of love, hope, kindness and generosity.  Help us look forward to Santa's gifts, while welcoming that greatest gift of Christmas--our Savior.  Help us to make our Advent holy.  Let our greatest gift be our helping to bring light to the path back to Jesus and His Church so that those we love will find the way.  Amen.

          May our prayers be “oranges” for our prodigals this holy season and may we each continue to have the perseverance of St. Monica and the unconditional love of the father of the Prodigal Son, until the day when we, too, can say, “Rejoice with me! The prodigal for whom I have prayed has come home!”