by Fr. Tommy Lane
I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They’d laugh at me I’d fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes,
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
“Your name I cannot find
I once was going to write it down....
But never found the time.”
(Unfortunately I do not know the source.)
That poem could very well describe the madness of the rushing and hustle and bustle of life, and indeed also the Christmas rush and Christmas shopping that will soon be upon us. Jesus is the reason for Christmas, let us not forget the reason for the season. To help us keep Jesus as the reason for the Christmas the Church gives us four weeks during Advent to prepare our hearts for Jesus. Indeed our entire lives, not just Advent, are a preparation and waiting in hope for God. So our Gospel today asks us to prepare for Jesus’ Second Coming and since we do not know when that will be we could really see our Gospel today asking us to be ready to be called from this life whenever that will be.
Jesus’ gives two pieces of advice; his first advice is,
“Watch yourselves or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life…”
Jesus is asking us to be aware of the many attractions and temptations in life that are pulling us away from the real meaning of life, which is Jesus himself. So instead of spending time in debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, Jesus’ second piece of advice is,
“Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.
Our second reading from Paul also had advice on how to use our time,
“we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants…”
So those words from Jesus and Paul lead us to ask ourselves, “How do we spend our time?” We need to withdraw from what is a waste of time and harmful to us and instead to “stay awake, praying at all times…” and to “make more and more progress in the kind of life that we are meant to live: the life that God wants…”
Advent is a time of grace given us by the Church to prepare our hearts for Jesus’ coming. Don’t miss out on the grace God is waiting to give you this Advent. Use Advent as a time to deepen your relationship with God, to prepare your heart for meeting God when you are called from this life and to prepare your heart for our celebration of Christmas. There is only one gift at Christmas, and that gift is Jesus. The shops are promoting Christmas because they make money out of it. Jesus said,
“Watch yourselves or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life…”
Instead Advent is a time to “stay awake, praying at all times…” and to “make more and more progress in the kind of life that we are meant to live: the life that God wants…” I would like to share with you this poem.
Take
time to think –
It is the source of power.
Take time to read –
It is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to play –
It is the secret of staying young.
Take time to be quiet –
It is the opportunity to seek God.
Take time to be aware –
It is the opportunity to help others.
Take time to love and be loved –
It is God’s greatest gift.
Take time to laugh –
It is the music of the soul.
Take time to be friendly –
It is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream –
It is what the future is made of.
Take time to pray –
It is the greatest power on earth.
(Unfortunately I do not know the source.)
“Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.”
“we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants…”
This homily was delivered when I was engaged in parish ministry in Ireland before joining the faculty of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland.
More homilies for the First Sunday of Advent Year C
Do not get lost in the cares of life, “Stay Awake”
Advent - “Stay awake, praying at all times...”
Related Homilies: A second chance at living, that chance is now