A. Continue to avoid him because I don't know
what to say.
B. Talk to mutual friends to see if he's upset
with me.
C. Write him a letter saying, "Hi"
and "Let's talk!"
D. Give him a call or stop by, just to let him
know I'm still around if he needs me.
Analysis
A. It's a tough cycle we can get in when we drift
apart - but staying away longer only makes it more difficult to bridge
the gap between us.
B. They might have insight but only he can say
what he really thinks or feels.
C. Some good direct communication can lead to
a personal encounter. Good job.
D. Letting someone know you care will help bring
the chill out of a relationship. Good gesture
Our relationships with our friends are in some ways similar to our relationship with God. The more we ignore Him, the more awkward it feels to be around Him. It gets harder to pray, because prayer involves placing ourselves in God's presence. He has already placed Himself in ours. (Read CCC 52, 2567).
Every Christmas we celebrate Jesus coming to us, the Word made flesh. Before Christ became man, God used many ways to communicate His friendship with people - but they kept allowing the relationship to drift away. They felt awkward approaching Him. When the prophets came (you know, the mutual friends), they gave some insight, mediating God's message. Through them, God sent a letter (you know, the Scriptures), but not everyone read it - and many of us don't read His letter to us now. Finally, He came to us Himself, and said that He's here and that He's still around if we need Him (in case you were wondering, we certainly do).
Like prayer, Christmas is about presence - no, not presents - presence. It's about God becoming one of us, walking with us, showing us the way, and then helping us get there. The question is, Do we want His friendship? Regardless of how we have neglected our friendship with God, He keeps offering Himself and His love to us. During this Advent season, reflect on God's presence in your life - and allow God to heal your relationship with Him through the sacrament of reconciliation.
So
now Advent is here, and we hear about it being a time to prepare for the
coming of Jesus, our Lord and our friend. Analogy:
When we have a good friend coming over to see us, we:
A. Start cleaning the house, because we want
our place to look its best when he comes.
B. Go to the store and get some good food, because
we want to have a good time when he arrives.
C. Mark the date so we know we'll be home when
he arrives.
D. Open the door and let him in when he arrives.
Without an open door no one can get in.
Analysis
A. There are things in our lives that don't belong
or get in the way of a friendship with God. Note what really keeps you
apart from God and remove it from your life.
B. We bring things into our lives that would welcome
God's presence - such as treating others well and cultivating good habits.
C. We have to set aside time to be with God. He
reveals Himself to us constantly, but we must take the time to pray. Make
sure to aside time each day.
D. Keep an open mind and heart. God can do great
things in us if we let Him. Make sure this Christmas that there is room
in the Inn. Peace!
By Pat Rinker,
Director of Youth Ministry, Diocese of Lansing
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