Stay awake! - Matthew 24:42
When I went for a long walk in our nearby park a few weeks ago, I was halfway through my journey before I even noticed how beautiful the changing leaves were. So many reds and oranges, and my feet had been shuffling through piles of crisp leaves that had fallen on the ground. It was breath-taking, and I had not noticed. I had not paid attention – I had been busy planning my day.
Today’s readings are full of good news and reminders to pay attention. It’s the perfect note as we start the season of Advent. In the first reading, Isaiah wrote his message for a people who were beleaguered, as we are, by conflict, war, divisions and unjust rulers. But to them – and us – Isaiah brings God’s message of peace and hope. If we turn to the Lord, Isaiah promises battle spears will be turned into plow blades and war weapons into farm tools. “One nation shall not raise the sword against the other, nor will they train for war again.”
Matthew’s Gospel encourages us to look for God’s presence each moment in our lives. “Stay awake! You do not know on which day your Lord will come.” We need to put our heads up and be alert for the loving presence of God with us each moment of the day.
As we begin our Advent, we may feel unready and have the urge to re-create ourselves into someone perfect. Deep down, we know our own flaws: we might drink too much; take our spouse for granted or ignore those around us who are suffering. We pray for help – but at a distance.
We may believe that if we aren’t perfect, we probably aren’t worthy of God’s love and affection. But that is not what God wants. We can’t save ourselves, but it is God’s delight to come to save us. Jesus is not waiting for our perfection, but for our attention.
Paying attention five minutes a day could change us and our Advent. We could read the daily scriptures and the message of the season. Perhaps we could set out a nativity image or a favorite crèche scene. We can start our day by imagining the smelly, cold stable and harsh and undignified place that was Jesus’ first home. This child, this savior, born into the stink of a shed full of animals, can certainly love us with all of our own embarrassing stench.
We can sit in silence and speak to Jesus about our upcoming busy, chaotic and confusing day. We bring our worries and joys to Jesus and ask that our hearts be opened in new ways. We can close by asking for the grace to carry that peace with us to all those we encounter that day. We can end our simple meditation by saying, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Loving God, I am so aware of my imperfections and flaws, and my instinct is to come to you later – when I have cleaned up my act. But when I quiet myself and sense your presence, I can feel that you come to meet me exactly as I am right now. I recognize your love in my heart - beyond anything I can understand with my head. Thank you for loving me exactly as I am. Help me to pay attention in these weeks of Advent. Come, Lord Jesus!
Maureen McCann Waldron
The most important part of my life is my family – Jim my husband of 47 years and our two children. Our daughter Katy, a banker here in Omaha, and her husband John, have three wonderful children: Charlotte, Daniel and Elizabeth Grace. Our son Jack and his wife, Ellie, have added to our joy with their sons, Peter and Joseph.
I think family life is an incredible way to find God, even in (or maybe I should say, especially in) the most frustrating or mundane moments.
I am a native of the East Coast after graduating in 1971 from Archbishop John Carroll High School in suburban Philadelphia. I graduated from Creighton University in 1975 with a degree in Journalism and spent most of the next 20 years in corporate public relations in Omaha. I returned to Creighton in the 1990s and completed a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality in 1998.
As our children were growing up, my favorite times were always family dinners at home when the four of us would talk about our days. But now that our kids are gone from home, my husband and I have rediscovered how nice it is to have a quiet dinner together. I also have a special place in my heart for family vacations when the kids were little and four of us were away from home together. It’s a joy to be with my growing family.
Writing a Daily Reflection is always a graced moment, because only with God’s help could I ever write one. I know my own life is hectic, disjointed and imperfect and I know most of us have lives like that. I usually write from that point of view and I always seem to find some sentence, some word in the readings that speaks right to me, in all of my imperfection. I hope that whatever I write is in some way supportive of others.
It’s an incredibly humbling experience to hear from someone who was touched by something I wrote. Whether the note is from someone across campus or across the world, it makes me realize how connected we are all in our longing to grow closer to God.
