Advent 3
Advent 3
by Michael Suden

Do any of us here tend to brood about the past? You know what I mean-not letting go of the past-past hurts and disappointments. If any of us here today are like that, then today's Gospel is just for you.

For some of us, the past is something that we'd rather not think about. I think that I can safely say that all of us can look over our shoulders and see some things that we've done or said that have hurt other people. Spouses betrayed. Children abused. Stealing on the job. Gossip. The catalog is endless, isn't it?

We'd like to get rid of these memories, but we still dwell on the past, don't we? How many times have we done something well and received many compliments and just one criticism? What do we dwell on the most? The compliments or the criticism?

When the people in today's Gospel ask St. John the Baptist, "What should we do?", he doesn't advise them to dwell on the past. Basically, St. John says, "Look, today you are here asking for baptism, for a renewal in your lives, something in the future to hope for-a better way of life". He answers their questions in the future. From now on, here's what you ought to do. So, when we ask God, "What are we to do?", I think that, if St. John the Baptist were here today, this is what he would tell us.

"Look, all of us here today have a past that we might not be so proud of. But, the thing that we should look at is that we're here, aren't we? We're sitting here trying to get closer to God, to hear His Good News, to be with other believers and to share His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Whatever has been our past is exactly that-our past".

So, if we are here today asking God what we should do with our lives in order to "move on", realize that just being here is a plus. All of us know that we can't undo the past. But, if we really believe in the expectation and coming of Christ, in other words-what Advent is all about, then we have begun our 'trip' towards answering the question, "What are we to do".

You know, recently I heard a great line. "It doesn't do a whole lot of good to water last year's crops". This little quote was said in the context of trying to help people realize that the best way to forget about the past is to do an outward, unselfish act for another person. And, to do it today!

You know, doing an act of kindness for someone doesn't have to be some great, magnificent gesture. It just has to be an act of everyday kindness.

Let me share a story with you.

So, as we can see, showing kindness doesn't have to cost us one dime. And, the benefits are eternal. Stop looking over your shoulder to see the past. Let the past bury the past. Don't water last year's crops. To be sure, the scars may still be there.

So, for those of us this Advent who carry dark memories and heavy burdens, whose hearts are broken, whose faith is weak, whose anger is justified, please remember that our Christian walk calls us to "lose our lives" and give them to others. In that way, and in only that way, open the doors of Christ's love to others.

And, in this holy season, may God bless you and your families and loved ones.