Watchful
I was meant to be at that Mass.
I mean, yes, I literally was supposed to be at Mass two weekends ago out of my Catholic Mass obligation. However, God made it abundantly clear that I was meant to be at that Mass. Our family rarely goes to 4pm Mass on Saturdays, but the one time we did, I was excited to walk in with a good friend from Bloomington who normally attends a different Catholic Church. Then, I happened to sit in the same pew as a good friend and former coworker from St. Mary’s Pontiac who was visiting Bloomington. And, after Mass, I received the sweetest thank-you hug from a coworker’s daughter. Talk about a trifecta of blessings - and that was in addition to the Mass!
It really is awesome when God places people and events in our lives like that. These God-incidences are beautiful and comforting consolations. But many times, the people and events that God places in our lives aren’t as big and obvious as the ones I encountered at Mass a couple weekends ago. As a result, we need to be watchful for them so we are ready to receive them when they happen.
Advent is a time to prepare our hearts (and our homes!) for the annual celebration of the birth of Jesus. There are many ways to do that. However, if the “one more thing” begins to feel like one more thing, then the meaning and purpose behind that thing become lost, and even worse, a hardening of our hearts can occur. I remember one Advent bouncing from Matthew Kelly’s Best Advent Ever daily video to Tim Gray’s Gospel reflection at the Augustine Institute, and oh yeah, I couldn’t miss the Blessed is She daily read, along with opening the Advent calendar with the kiddos. Do you know how far behind I found myself mid-way through Advent that year? And then I just felt reduced, like I wasn’t preparing well enough. By the time I finally turned myself around (by God's grace), it was week 3 of Advent and my heart wasn’t much more prepared than when I started.
This year, my Advent challenge is to be watchful. Be watchful for those moments of goodness or help create those moments of goodness. It might be moments of silence. It might be moments gazing at a Nativity set. It might be reading favorite books with little ones. Maybe it’s baking for a neighbor or listening to Advent music. Enjoy the Christmas cards you send out, as well as the ones you receive. Ponder the reality of Christmas. Simply be mindful of the good things happening throughout each day.
If we intentionally look for the good in something, we will likely find the good. Be watchful this Advent. You never know who or what might draw you closer to Christ, or who you might encounter at church next weekend.
