Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Intention: That we all might rediscover the joy of simplicity in living and make of this Advent a season of hospitality and generosity to those in need.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 21:23-27
When Jesus had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Reflection for the Third Monday of Advent
The time of Christmas is synonymous with the giving and receiving of gifts. While this tradition has its roots in a variety of ancient customs, Christians look to the story of the Nativity for their understanding of the practice. There is, of course, the Magi bringing to the infant Jesus gifts symbolizing his mission. Then there is Jesus himself, God’s gift of a savior to the world. The common trait here is a concept of gift that transcends the exchanging of material possessions. For us, gift means the coming into life of grace, a special presence that lifts us and makes us better, often awakening us to the real and sacred meaning of our lives. Often, but not always.
Unfortunately, humans have long had a propensity for focusing on the material notion of gift, that of amassing the stuff of status and self-aggrandizement, with predictably terrible results. Consider what we did with God’s gift of his Son. While some people were simply unable to recognize the gift, there also were those who chose to do away with it, refusing to accept or even allow anything that did not serve their greed for power and gratification. Pope Francis commented on this once in a homily, saying, “Throughout history this closeness of God to his people has been betrayed by this selfish attitude, selfish, by wanting to control grace, to turn it into merchandise”. Fortunately, God has a response to this paradox. He answers it with one of his own.
It has been said that the Gospel is the story of Jesus trying to turn an upside down world right side up. We are told that the only way to live is to die, the only way to be filled is to be emptied, the only way to be first is to be last, the only way to be rich is to be poor. In other words, our egocentric ways are not God’s ways. When it comes to the giving and receiving of gifts, this would seem to suggest that the only true gifts are those which come from God. As much as we try to delude ourselves that our self-made commerce defines and measures our happiness and fulfillment, it is only what we can give and receive from and into the depths of our souls that matters.
And so, we are challenged to celebrate our Lord’s birth by welcoming and trusting our reliance on God and the profound simplicity of his ways. As the letter of James insists, “Do not be deceived, my beloved: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.” (Jas. 1:16-17) Advent is a time to reflect on what Christmas can teach us about living with open hands, of entering into a right understanding of giving that says that we have nothing of worth to give that we did not first receive.
Prayer
Eternal Father, we always are in your presence, but sometimes we make ourselves too much the center of everything and so do not recognize you. As we remember how your Son first came to us in simplicity and ordinariness, let us see you in every person that we meet. Let us hear you in both the laughter and the cries that reach our ears. May others know you through how we live our own lives, and may all of us learn the lessons that you have placed in our struggles and our successes. We ask this of you who lives with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.