This Advent, turn down the electronics

2nd Sunday in Advent, Sun., Dec. 4, 2011
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: Mark 1:1-8 “A baptism of repentance”

Full homily text: We certainly live in a unique time in human history don’t we? Technology is changing faster today than most of us can keep up with. Take, for example our means of social communication. Who would have known what Facebook or Twitter was 10 years ago? Yet now these are so commonplace. And what about texting? For many sending short abbreviated phrases to each other via the phone or computer is a common means of communication.

Fr. Joseph Eddy is the vocation director of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, founded to redeem Christians whose faith is in danger. The Order’s student house in the U.S. is in Philadelphia.

Is God calling you to become a Mercedarian friar? Visit Fr. Joseph’s Facebook page, or the website of the .

Of course all of this has had a huge an impact on our lives, because it defines how we relate to one another and how we spend our time. The danger is that communication and/or relationships become superficial, further isolating us from others. Also, there is a danger of an addiction developing to these means of communication. We must always be doing something. Our devices are always close at hand. We are always at work or always doing. We are never just being or listening to God and others.

He holds us in being

It is important to remember that no matter how much things change God is “ever ancient and ever new” (St. Augustine). He is always present, always speaking to us and holding us in being.

The Scriptures speak to us of a very primitive person this Sunday, St. John the Baptist. We are introduced to him today as a man “clothed in camel”s hair, with a leather belt around his waist…eating locusts and wild honey.” What a strange fellow!!  But, his life and detachment is ordered to one goal: the Kingdom of God. St. John the Baptist is the forerunner prophesized by Isaiah as when he says, “A voice cries out…prepare the way of the Lord.” To prepare the way for others he must first prepare the way for the Lord in his own heart. John had to eliminate any obstacles to God’s voice. He goes out into the desert for years and lives on what is present there. First, he listened to God’s voice so that he could be “the voice crying out….”

Make a highway for God

It all has to do with detachment. Detachment is defined as the voluntary withholding of undue affection for created things so as to focus on God and eternal things. Most people hear this word and think, “That is only for religious who take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.” But, no one can live the Christian life without saying “no” to some things that are good in themselves. We are not called by God to go into a real desert this Advent season or to wear camel’s hair or even eat locusts (though wild honey doesn’t sound so bad!!).

But, Advent does call us to rethink created things and how we use them. Cell phones, Blackberries, Facebook, Twitter, etc. are good in themselves, but they can be distracting us from God and the duties of our state in life. What a great time it is to make a highway for God in our lives!!! We could start by turning off the cell phone on Sunday or try to keep it off during family meals. We could use the drive to work to just be in God’s presence; just listen. We don’t have to always be doing things. God loves us not because of what we do, but because we are created in His Image with love.

In silence, nature, and through others

When we do remove the obstacles or listen more we will realize God is and was always present. He communicates with us all the time, but God does not send text messages or write on our Wall. He speaks in silence, in nature, through others, in everything. So, although technology is always changing, God is the same. He loves us and wants to communicate with us at all times. We just have to prepare a place for this Advent. A place in our hearts.