Advent
one
Tomorrow is the beginning of Advent. One purpose of Advent is to remind us of our purpose in life, to wake us up and to get moving toward the goal.
The very first line of the Catechism tells us we were created to share in the very life of God. And the Bible, in 1 John 3:2, says the purpose of life is to become like God. Yes, that is really what the Bible says and if you don’t believe me look it up yourself. In other words, what God is offering is that we become a saint and a great Saint at that.
The virtue that corresponds to what God is offering is the virtue of Magnanimity. It comes from two words – great soul. Magnanimity is to have a great soul. God offers us all we need to share in His life, become like Him and be a Saint. Magnanimity is the virtue by which we say: Wow! I want that! God, I want what you want for me. And I will do what it takes to receive this gift! Magnanimity is the desire and action to become as Great as God wants you to be and nothing less.
The opposite of Magnanimous is to be Pusillanimous – which also comes from two words – small soul.
Pusillanimous is to choose to suck spiritually and in virtue.
To be pusillanimous is to choose to be less great than God wants you to be; either because we don’t believe it or don’t know it; or because we have too little love of God so we refuse to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve it; or because we actually want something different than what God wants for us – something much smaller. And our soul is only as big as what it wants. So, if your heart is set on something small then you have a small soul.
Are you magnanimous – great souled; or pusillanimous – small souled – do you choose to suck, or did you just not know to what heights you were called?
two
Let me share with you four essential ingredients for Advent; four ingredients to reach your full potential and be Magnanimous.
The first ingredient is a Rule of Life. God’s grace builds on nature, so if you want to get your grace life in order then you’ve got to get your natural life in order. We do that by living a well-ordered and balanced life.
In General God designed the Human Person to need certain good things to thrive:
1. Physical and Psychological goods (food, shelter, health, safety, security, exercise, rest; Order, and stability, variety and growth
2. A family or community of friendship whom you love, and who love you – someone who has your back
3. Knowledge
4. Meaningful Work
5. Beauty – through nature, art, literature, music…
6. Your own Identity (our specific place in the world)
7. Most importantly, a relationship with God because we were made for union with God and nothing less will satisfy.
St Benedict taught the best way to achieve this was through a Rule of Life, that is, a structure or a recipe for your life to ensure you get what you need to be happy and protect you from things that destroy happiness.
Examine your life today – where do you have too much of some ingredients, too little of others, and in some instances - the wrong ingredients.
Then create a recipe, rule or plan of life, that is, a structure that enables you to live a well-rounded life. Then share that with those you live with so they are aware and can help rather than hinder you unawares.
three
The Second Ingredient is Prayer.
Prayer is friendship with God. Friendship takes time talking, listening and just being together. Many people say prayers – they talk to God, or rather they tell God what they want from him. But that does not make for a friendship does it. Friendship means we go the full distance to spending time listening to God and to just being with him in silence and stillness. We must go on from telling God what we want to listening to him and being with him in real friendship – we must go on to meditation.
There are three simple steps to meditation which can be done in the Rosary or without it.
Read something from the Word of God contained in Scripture, Tradition, the writings of the saints or from the Church; and as soon as something strikes you – stop reading.
Reflect or think about what struck you
Try to Understand it; observe what is going on or being said and ask questions. Apply it to your life. Draw conclusions that fit your life. Talk over all of this with Jesus in your mind and heart
Resolution: Before you end your time in prayer - Choose something practical and concrete to remember or to do today based on your meditation – that is your resolution.
The Rosary is supposed to be a meditation. That is why I give you a brief point from the Word of God, the Deposit of Faith to reflect upon. But you must come up with your own resolution each day.
Since Our Lady asked us to pray the Rosary every day – Advent is a good time to commit to that – to Pray the Rosary every day.
If you pray the Rosary every day – commit to more time in silent meditation. The more time you spend with Jesus the more you will burn with desire for friendship with Him.
four
The Third essential ingredient is a daily examination of conscience and frequent confession – at least once a month.
In your daily examine…
1. Begin with Gratitude
a. For what am I grateful?
b. To whom am I grateful? First, I am grateful to God.
c. All these things for which I am grateful are the concrete manifestations of his love for me.
d. Now, How have I corresponded to His love?
2. Then look back over your last 24 hours and acknowledge where you have thought, said and done things that were wrong or failed to do what was right…the things that left us empty and unhappy.
a. This honest assessment will cause us to grow in our desire and love for God, purifying our disordered desires
b. Then tell God you are truly sorry because you love Him above all things
3. Make a game plan to learn from this and live better today – this is part of your resolution flowing out of prayer – some simple concrete thing to put into practice today to be more happy.
4. Now – go to Confession.
five
The Fourth Ingredient is to love, that is, to spend quality time with your family, friends, and someone who is lonely, forgotten or abandoned.
A great way to get out of our routines that prevent us from becoming a saint is to think about the needs of your family, friends and those who are lonely. Then take the initiative to invite them to spend time with you. As I’ve said before – it takes no extra time – just do what you were going to do and do it with them and talk while you do it. Invite, show hospitality, be genuinely fascinated and interested in their lives. Be generous, especially with your time and listening.
You want to do something for Jesus this Advent – then do something for someone who is lonely. And there are lots of lonely people all around us.
Ask people what they their plan for Advent is.
Then tell them you have committed to pray the Rosary every day
And ask them if you can share the Rosary Podcast with them
Or just send it to someone and say – Hey this is what I’m doing for Advent. Would you like to join me?