November is the end of the harvest here in North America. This is the month when we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It is also the month when we come to the end of our liturgical year. Advent brings the beginning of a new year in the Church at the end of November. The days get shorter, and nights get longer. Thanksgiving Day decorations come out; the stores are full of Christmas specials; some homes even have Christmas decorations set up. We begin to wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We start counting the days to Christmas. Waiting and counting.
In contrast to the hazy, lazy days of summer, this is probably the busiest time of the whole year: cleaning up the fallen leaves, storing all the summer lawn and pool things, planning the big celebrations for Thanksgiving and Christmas, getting all the food menus and desserts planned, coordinating with friends and family who will be coming to the house, Christmas choir practices, Christmas play rehearsals, and putting up the decorations. While we are waiting and counting the days to Thanksgiving or Christmas, we are running around like busy bees or active ants.
The readings from the Bible during this time always speak of the end times, our encounter with God. But most people have a that hazy, lazy summer attitude when it comes to getting ready to see God or our own personal conversion. We tend to postpone anything that has to do with changing ourselves or being better signs in our family of God’s presence in the world. We decide to do that next year. Or we just give up and decide to do nothing about our personal conversion. Sometime we are even fearful of our encounter with God.
Jesus proposes a different attitude. Today’s Gospel parable says we can be like servants who are dressed wide awake, ready for action at night. Not sleeping in their pajamas, rather waiting to open the door for their master who will return at any hour of the late night or early morning hours. This a true Christian: always prepared, never leaving conversion and service to another day.
St. Paul is very specific about the attitude of a true Christian. He says: always be glad; always be gentle; and pray with thankful hearts. That is the light of the lamps that each Christian has. All the activity and energy that we have in life goes towards being better signs of God’s presence in our school, family and neighborhood. God loves us, so we share that love with others and are eager to meet him directly. Everything we do in life is focused on sharing our joy with others and thanking God for all we have – especially his presence in our lives through our family, friends, school, and neighbors.
So, we are not busy bees who just run around doing things to keep busy. Nor are we lazy hibernating bears, ignoring our life and responsibilities. A true Christian is wide awake every day and busy serving others by sharing joy, kindness and thanksgiving – just being a sign of God’s love.
Take some time during this busy season to ask yourself about your conversion and service.
See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit.
Image: https://www.journeyintothewilderness.com/blog/2010/09/luke-1235-40.html