Fr. Frank Majka, SJ – The Bridge

Who’s in the Middle?

Galileo gave us a helio-centric (sun-centered) model of the solar system. He proclaimed that the earth moved around the sun, not the opposite; the earth wasn’t in the center, the sun was. And people persecuted him for saying this.

I think there’s something like this in our time. Specifically, I think many have a me-liocentric view of things in which I put myself, my wants, and my wishes at the center of the world, and expect everything and everyone else to revolve around me. And I don’t want to hear another message.

But the gospel gives that other message anyway, and illustrates it by reminding us that John the Baptist told people that, though he was announcing the coming of the Christ, he considered Christ as being at the center not himself. He even said that he wasn’t worthy to untie the Messiah’s sandal straps.

In Advent let’s ask if perhaps we have put ourselves in the center of things, judging everything else as having value only in relationship to ourselves and not being willing to hear anything different. Maybe we need to recalibrate our thinking and start living in a Christ-ocentric universe in which Christ comes first and we find our true place in being related to him, and not the other way around. Do you think that kind of re-orientation will be easy or difficult?

Coming To

Advent is about Christ’s “coming to” us. The word itself derives from the Latin for coming/veniens and to/ad. In the season of Advent, the church focuses on the coming of Christ to us at the Nativity and at the end of time.

But as I got to thinking about the expression “coming to,” I realized that though it means “approaching” in Latin, in English we can use it to mean “regaining consciousness” as in “coming to” after one has been knocked out.

So, maybe we can think of Advent as a time when we regain consciousness. About what? I can think of three things I would want to become more conscious of. The first is my desire to have God as a friend and companion. The second is the realization that I don’t have to earn God’s love; it has already been freely given to me. The third is the awareness of how I have been touched by God through the goodness and kindness of others around me. Sadly, I’m not always conscious of these three things, and this year’s Advent can be a time to become aware of them again as I prepare for Christmas.

What things do you, your family, or your community need to “come to” about? Share a comment if you like.

Christ the King

Christ’s kingship is real. Christians acknowledge him (read the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Colossians) as the image of the invisible God, the one in whom the fullness of divinity dwells, the one who holds all things together, brings forgiveness, and reconciles everything by his death. He reigns, and he wishes to extend his kingdom of justice, peace, and love.

But he does not reign by force. In our lives and world, he invites but does not compel. He reigns only if we allow him to. He leads only if we are willing to be led. He reconciles only if we wish to be reconciled. His love changes us only if we let it in. And he establishes justice and peace only to the extent that we let him.

Are there areas our lives and the world where Christ has been partially or entirely excluded, where his reign is less than it could be? How we can invite him to be King in those, too, remembering that he does not compel people to accept his rule?

Our Talent-Giving God

Jesus’ story of the talents is about a master who entrusts money (called “talents” in Jesus’ day) to his servants then leaves. He hopes to find a profit on his return, but only two of the three had something more to give him than what he’d left; the third buried it.

Clearly the story is about the master and the three servants, but the story’s also about God and us. God’s given us “talents,” that is, our skills and abilities, and expects we’ll do something profitable with them, not just bury them away.

Of course God doesn’t need us to use our talents. He can get along very well if we bury them. But if we don’t use our talents, we won’t have much to give God. And if we want a loving friendship with God, all the giving can’t be just on his side.

Soon, we Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving. When we do, let’s thank God for the talents he has given us. And since God says that one of the best ways to give back to him is to use our talents and gifts for others, how have we, our families, and our church communities done that this past year? Any thoughts?