Advent Reflection 12/15/21:
Speaking to our 2nd – 5th grade
classes today in Morning Prayer I couldn’t help but feel that how much more
simple it is to talk to children rather than adults. They just seem to “get it” for the most
part. Perhaps it’s because they aren’t
as busy as we all are with the holidays, or perhaps that their innocence has
simply yet to establish the cynical mindset that majority of adults develop
over this life. Whatever it is, they
often allow proof of their experiences to be the answer to their questions
where we, as adults, seemingly need something just a little more. My grandpa used to say that kids grow so much
faster than adults because they haven’t figured out how to stunt their own
process yet.
Children don’t stress about what comes next because they
have proof that their teachers have it all planned out. Children don’t worry about where to go next
because they have been given proof that their teachers will direct them. These same children whom I was speaking to
this morning allow their day, and essentially their lives to be directed by us
(teachers/staff) and you (parents/grandparents) with faith that everything will
be perfectly fine. Even when we change
the day up on them, they still trust that it will be alright because they have
proof that we will take care of them.
This allows for the little surprises to be celebrated with genuine joy
and excitement this time of year. A
child’s ability to truly prepare for Christ is taken in their ability to see
the evidence all around them. As they
mentioned this morning: “What evidence do you have that Jesus is coming?” –
Their answers “Christmas trees and decorations; The church is decorated in
purple; Christmas music; Presents under the tree...” and so on.
Adults on the other hand….well, let’s face it, our society
shows us that there isn’t very much trust, excitement or genuine joy in one
another. We spend more time worrying
about things that are days, even months away than we do focusing on the gift of
the present moment. We question everything
at all times and question the answers even harder as we grow more and more
cynical. I wonder if I were to ask our
adults “What evidence do you have that Jesus is coming?” what sort of answers I
may receive. Perhaps we would say
something like, “my bank account is getting low; I’m trying to schedule dinner
to accommodate everyone; I have to go to the store…” and so on.
Today’s Gospel also speaks about allowing the proof of
Christ to fill our hearts and minds during this season of Advent. John’s disciples asked Jesus “Are you the one
who is to come, or should we look for another?”
Jesus responds to them: “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:
the blind regain sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf hear, dead are
raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense
at me” (LK 7:18-23). It is this same
type of questioning if Jesus actually is who He is that will keep a soul from
Heaven.
When will we take a cue from our children, and allow the
proof of Christ’s daily workings in our lives to relax our walls enough so as
to truly prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus at Christmas? When will we stop and slow down enough to
allow Christ to work in our lives? It’s
not irony that we have this Advent Season for that exact thing. Won’t you prepare?
Mr. Swann - Principal