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First Sunday of Advent

~Monsignor Sheehy, November 30th 2008

Dear Friends:

This is the first time that I am writing column which I have called Monsignor’s Corner. It is an opportunity to express thoughts which cross my mind having to do with many different subjects. This is an excellent weekend to begin the column because we are beginning a new liturgical year with this first Advent Sunday.

Albert Einstein made a very perceptive statement many years ago when he wrote: “Our age is characterized by the perfection of means and the confusion of goals.” Advent should find us filled with awe and amazement when we hear the great scriptural readings at Mass. Maybe the joy of this time of preparation for Christ’s birth is somewhat distant from us for a very simple reason. Perhaps we do fit into Einstein’s conclusion that we have become confused about our goals. If the goal of life has become confused and vague, this is the time to make it crystal clear for ourselves. The goal of the Christian is to know and love Jesus Christ so that after this life, a heaven of indescribable peace and love awaits.

What is my goal in life? What am I working to achieve with my life? It is quite possible that we generally have not set up our day with the most important goal set sharply and clearly before our minds. We are often under the illusion that we have all the time in the world to work towards loving and believing more deeply in Christ. Experience should tell us that this is a foolish game to play. Scripture has warned us repeatedly that death can come ‘like a thief in the night.’ There are times when we may feel that our faith in Christ and His Church is slipping. This should also be a time to begin again to clarify the most important goal in life. The secularized society in which we live can deceive us so easily with promises of happiness without God. Advent is the season that reminds us that the goal of life is to know and love the Lord. This is a time to ‘take time’ to examine our motives, our behavior, our faith. There are so may graces for those who will use the Advent Season. We must bring our lives into harmony with the goal which we are pursuing. The making of a good confession will do much to help us enliven our faith, and the inner peace we shall receive is not of the world, but as only Christ Himself can give.

Until next time, may we have a blessed and most fruitful Advent Season here at Blessed Trinity.