A timely reflection
1)Eucharistic Adoration tonight, 7-8 pm, SAA Church. All those who wish to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament are invited!!
2)DC ‘Hood vs. St Andrew / St John the Baptist parishes, Fri., Nov 30, 7:30 pm, Wheaton High School. Go ‘Hood!
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The following is a reflection (11/27/94) by Msgr. Thomas Wells from the book, “From the Pastor’s Desk”:
“TBS gives thanks to Clint Eastwood…Parental discretion advised.” I believe these lines faithfully quote part of a widely shown Thanksgiving week advertisement on TV and lets us know to whom the owners of Turner broadcasting, at least, give thanks during this wonderful holiday weekend. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving you may have noticed the Postal Service announcement that either this year or next, they will cease to reproduce Nativity scenes on postage stamps at Christmas. This, I suppose, is because mail delivery has become so efficient that divine help is no longer necessary to enhance service. We have begun what offense avoiding merchants safely call, “the holiday season,” and judging by the parking lot at Montgomery Mall this weekend, our response has been early and fervent. And, oh yes, this is the first Sunday of Advent.
Folks, ours is an increasingly and in some ways, militantly, secular age. TBS can announce an all-day barrage of Eastwood movies by confusing the movie star with God and probably not even realize their blasphemy. How many even spend time at all asking the question, “Thank who?” as they celebrate the fourth Thursday of November? Let us not be naïve; those who have given so much time to eliminating any reference to the birthday of the Lord from school holiday celebrations have been enormously successful. Many children of supposedly Christian heritage have no knowledge of any seasonal story beyond that of Santa.
In the first reading from the Mass of Friday of the first week of Advent, the Prophet Isaiah (Is 29:17-24) says, “Out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” Certainly our age, as much as that of the prophets, is one of gloom and darkness, but the Advent message will not allow us to lose hope. For any who keep focused on Christ, there will be sureness of vision. But even more importantly, for those of us who have been baptized into Christ, there is a reminder that we – His Church, his people – are empowered by the Spirit to be His light that shines in the fog and gloom of secular unhappiness. It is not enough for us simply to protect ourselves from the darkness of unbelief, but also we must ask Him to use us to light the way for those lost in the darkness of the world’s deceiving message.
posted by Fr Greg @ 10:35 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Especially today, I've been struck with how short some peoples' lives are. It doesn't seem to matter one's walk of life- we each have our time, and hopefully we are prepared when it comes.
I had always thought of one's passing as leaving a hole, but I no longer think that's true. We each occupy a space in the world and fill it up in the way in which we choose. We can fill it with hope, love and passion- those things endure. Or, we can fill it with rage, hate and pain, things which can, sadly, also endure. We don't depart this world with this big gaping space left in our wake. We each leave a legacy.
I wonder how many more lives would have been touched in the way FG has described his life was touched by Msgr Wells had he lived longer. I find myself curious about many things- especially when someone or something doesn't seem to come from the exact mold I expect, and Msgr Well's life doesn't seem to disappoint in that regard. His writings were a often really different in tone(frequently very funny) than one might expect from a priest- of all things!! Maybe inspiring curiosity was one of his many legacies.
In thinking that way, I guess no life is really too short- it's probably exactly as long as it needs to be. Maybe embracing a legacy is the best way to be close with those who have passed.
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