Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
Intention: That this Advent will be for us a time of reflection on the miracle of Emmanuel – of God with us – and that it will be filled with prayer, repentance, and good will to all.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
Reflection for Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Author Eric Liddell once proposed, “You will know as much of God, and only as much of God, as you are willing to put into practice.” The celebration of Advent and its culmination on Christmas Day are filled with some of the most beautiful and moving rituals in all of Christianity. They invite us to experience deeply and reverently the story of the birth of our Savior. And so we enter into the sacred time and space of worship and devotion – with one caution.
As we take in the richness of our Advent traditions, we should reminded ourselves not to allow the act of worship to take the place of its purpose. Giving praise to God and observing the liturgical calendar are not ends in themselves. Like any time spent with a beloved, we seek to be in God’s presence so that we might be more complete. We enter into worship so that we leave transformed by God, more alive in out vocation to be part of God’s constant act of creation of goodness.
Perhaps that is what once caused Jesus to invoke the words of the Prophet Hosea: “For it is loyalty that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” In other words, kneeling in front of the creche cannot take the place of following Christ out of his manger and onto his path of doing his Father’s will. The time of Advent is a time for worship, but worship that leads to discipleship. We make time to be filled so that we might empty ourselves for the sake of God’s Kingdom.
Prayer
Eternal Father, you sent to us your son Jesus not just so that we would revere him, but that we also would follow him. Sometimes we can confuse keeping our faith with living our faith. Fill our hearts with a passion for truth and integrity not just for believing the right things but also for doing the right things. Help us to keep both our words and our deeds in harmony with your will. Use us as instruments of your healing and care. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.