Make your Christmas more meaningful this year. What concrete actions can you do to fill your desert time? - Daily Reflections December 7,2014

THE DESERTED ROAD TO THE DESERT

 

The Christmas rush is officially on. The mad and frenetic days are here again. In these days, the local government begins to look for alternate routes for motorists in an attempt to divert traffic flow from the major thoroughfares where the malls and entertainment establishments are located. All roads lead to the malls and entertainment places once again.

         But while all the ads point to the mall and shopping centers, today’s Gospel points us to a different road — often unoccupied, free from traffic, and sometimes deserted: the road to the desert. On this second Sunday of Advent, the figure of John the Baptist points us to this road less traveled. In the Scriptures, the desert has always been a road of purification, of purgation, of being stripped down to the bare essentials. Israel was purified for 40 years in the desert before reaching the Promised Land. Jeremiah encountered God in a trying time in the desert. Jesus spent 40 days preparing for His active ministry in the desert as well.

         When we tread the road to the malls, the only god we will most likely encounter there is the god of commercialism, the god of want and invented needs. John the Baptist today proposes an alternative route — the road to the desert. An encounter with the true God is only possible when we are purified, purgated and stripped down to the bare essentials because God is not a God of superficiality, shallowness and excess. He is the God of meaning, depth and simplicity.

         Friends, let us fill up the oft-deserted road to the desert. Go to the desert this Advent season. Find your desert time. Visit the sacrament of reconciliation. Sign up for your parish Advent recollection. Volunteer yourself and your family members in some parish outreach or apostolate. Try your best to attend the nine-day Simbang Gabi. Read the Scriptures. Set aside some sacred silent time for your soul.

         Do not treat these days simply as preparation for the holidays. Make these days truly holy days of anticipation and welcome. Fr. Joel Jason

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Make your Christmas more meaningful this year. What concrete actions can you do to fill your desert time?

 

Help me to focus on You this Christmas, dear Jesus.