Second Sunday of Advent, Dec. 8, 2013
Self-preservation is something that we learn very early in life. As infants we learn quickly not to pull the dog’s tail, because he will nip at us. Later on in life, we learn not to touch the burner on the stove when it is hot. This may take a blister or two, but we definitely eventually are more careful.
Brother David Spencer was ordained a priest of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy on Nov. 16. Check out our video!
As we get into adolescence we may discover new ways and types of self-preservation such as: Don’t disagree with the popular group in school, and follow the crowd can help us to avoid any problems or ridicule. Naturally, self-preservation can be a good thing. We should not knowingly put ourselves in a places of near occasion of sin or cause unnecessary harm to ourselves.
Our comfort zone
St. John the Baptist, though, was not a man concerned with self-preservation. Yes he did eat food, but it was “locusts and wild honey.” Yes, he did sleep, but it was probably less than others and on the ground. The Gospels tell us that St John lived his early life in the desert preparing himself for his mission. Possibly, he was faced with the temptation to stay in the desert when the Lord called him to his public mission. Certainly the desert was not comfortable, but he faced a great challenge and ridicule by facing down the religious leaders of his time. But, this was the call given to John from the womb, “to prepare the way of the Lord.” John went out of his comfort zone to call Israel to repentance in preparation for the coming Messiah.
In some ways, each one of us are John the Baptist. We are all called by our baptism to “prepare the way of the Lord.” This is evangelization. This is the theme of Pope Francis’ most recent Apostolic Exhortation entitled The Joy of the Gospel. When we think of evangelization we may think of those who go “door to door” — maybe the Mormons or the Jehovah Witnesses.
Temptation of self-preservation
However, evangelization for Pope Francis is more like going out into the world, confident of God’s ability to use our humble witness and love to “warm hearts” with the Gospel. The Pope recognizes the many challenges of today: increased secularization, weakness of the Church’s clergy, and the temptation from the world to not embrace the Judeo Christian morals of the past. The temptation for all of us is always self-preservation. Why? Because that is what we have been consciously and subconsciously taught to do all our lives. So we sometimes hide our faith and avoid admitting it to friends at work or family members. We follow the crowd in some forms of recreation or entertainment which are against our better judgment. Or, we just isolate ourselves, taking as Pope Francis says, “…refuge in the comfort of (our) privacy or in a small circle of close friends…”
The Holy Father reminds us this Advent we must reach out to those of different views or even those who have hurt us. He says, the “Gospel tells us constantly to run the risk of a face to face encounter with their physical presence which challenges us, with their pain.” This is extremely difficult!! We are called to take the narrow road. This is, as Robert Frost says, “the road less traveled.” Years ago it was much easier since everyone accepted the same basic way of living. Now every truth is questioned and open for debate.
The Image of God
We must like St. John the Baptist be willing to leave the security of the “desert” and welcome the Image of God which is found in each person. To see and affirm the goodness of every person. Yet at the same time we live a faith which is counter cultural. The greatest witness we can give to others is to love despite ridicule. To forgive those who harm us. To listen with respect to all. But, to not compromise the truth or ourselves. This is the way of Christ, which takes us from the Cross to the Resurrection. The path to joy does not come from self-preservation, but by living our faith and taking the risk to love others as Christ loved us. So let us seek joy this Advent by going out of ourselves to proclaim the life-giving message of Christ.