The crowds asked John the Baptist,
“What should we do?”
This week in the Gospel we meet John the Baptist once more. His followers ask three times: “What should we do?” Each answer is a window into what Jesus (who will soon begin his own ministry of preaching the Kingdom of God) will ask of His disciples. Here are John’s answers translated into the expectations of Jesus: True believers in Jesus are willing to downsize and then give freely to take care of others. True followers of Jesus conduct all their business (and their living) honestly and without giving into the temptation to “make a little more” at the expense of another. Authentic apostles of Jesus do not take advantage of the weak and do not seek more than they truly need.
True freedom, a lasting joy, and a life-giving peace are possible through Christ Jesus (see the second reading). The way to receive all of that is to commit to a quiet, patient waiting for Jesus in what remains of Advent. Christ will always dwell in our hearts, but if we make more room for Him by emptying ourselves of distractions, fears, worries, and self-doubt, He will truly own our hearts. If we give away our distractions, fears, worries, and self-doubt to God for Him to dispose of, then we have made a beautiful, peaceful place for Jesus to be born – better than any over-booked Inn in Bethlehem!
While the energy of “getting ready” picks up in the marketplace, let’s spend these last days of Advent in quiet prayer getting our inner house in order. Come to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Spend time in the peaceful presence of the Lord at Eucharistic Adoration this Monday and Friday. Pray with Mary in the Rosary as her days of waiting draw to a close. Take a walk. Sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel as you go about your day. May God give you always the gift of knowing what you should do.
Happy Waiting!
Welcome to the Saint Aloysius! Our parish was founded in 1896 to serve the Catholic families that were settling in the greater New Canaan area.