We’re coming up on the season of Advent, and I tend to get a bit more introspective this time of year. This year though, there were two very external events that got me more into that mode than usual. The first was this past Sundays first reading (33rd Sunday in ordinary time) from the prophet Daniel. He alerted us about the two fates that await each of us as the end of time (see the passage below).
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Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.
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Daniel uses two key words in describing the fate of condemnation – horror and disgrace. Horror is analogous to fear, and this is one of the favorite tactics of the adversary. If we are afraid, we are diminished in our ability to deal with things, and often this can lead to hopelessness. This is exactly what Satan wants, to have us give up, and remain in a state of sin. Perceived disgrace is another tool that he favors, because it pairs with resentment, and a hardening of our hearts to whatever we feel we have been slighted or disgraced over, and our ability to forgive is damaged. All of these things keep us from spiritual healing and mending our relationship with God and with others. If we allow ourselves to be left in such a state, the situation is one of horrible self-fulfillment of the prophets warning.
We need to instead, embrace the opportunities this upcoming season of preparation affords us. We need to spend time in reflection, and self-examination of our relationships. We need to reach out and mend that which is broken. We need to go to confession and unburden ourselves of the load that has accumulated. Only then can we truly be part of the season of peace and fulfillment that we are anticipating when we celebrate Christs birth.
At Mass this past Sunday, there was a situation that frankly threw me for a loop at first. During the intercessory prayers one of our family at Saint Bernadette’s was praying very loudly and earnestly for forgiveness and for relief from the things that bound him. He eventually came before the altar and fell to his knees and cried before our Lord as be prayed. I didn’t know quite what to make of it for a moment, but then it hit me, out of all of us there, this man had the absolute right idea. He didn’t care who was watching, he didn’t care that this was out of the “norm” for our Sunday Mass ritual, he knew what he needed, and to whom he needed to present his petitions. It really moved me, and I suspect many of those around me. We should all feel so uninhibited in our pleas, because the only one that truly matters, is the One who sees all with no judgement about appearances, but only of what is really on the mind and heart.
The Deacons Bench 