See God

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Meditation on Wednesday, 2nd week of Advent, year C2

A God who comforts, a God who supports the weary with His power, refreshing the weary. This image of the Creator appears in the readings for the next Advent day. I think that this is very important information for us preparing for Christmas, when in the maze of store shelves and when making a pre-Christmas shopping list, we will miss the Most Important One, fearing not to miss anything. Christmas fairs, shop windows and carols playing in the background do not let us forget about the upcoming holidays. Marketing tricks even stimulate us to join this atmosphere. From November 4, in front of the Gallery in Łódź, there is a luminous inscription: “Wesołych Świąt”. Promotions, sales, gift ideas, culinary solutions for those who hesitate whether to serve borscht with dumplings or mushroom soup on the Christmas table. It is not difficult to be indifferent to the festive atmosphere. Year after year, new ideas are born, new ways to help you go through a lot of Christmas preparations. No wonder it is so difficult for us to see little Jesus in this tumult. Old Testament prophets and pagan visionaries hoped for the coming of the king of the universe in the person of this little child. We, on the other hand – I have the impression – are more inclined to open our wallets to take advantage of the next sale. This actually makes it very difficult to see Jesus.

Today’s liturgical readings emphasize that God’s presence is real, and additionally emphasize His greatness and mercy, which should be remembered in the beginning of the Year of Mercy. “He forgives all your trespasses and heals all diseases. He saves your life from destruction, gives you grace and mercy” (Ps 103: 3 – 4).

It is worth taking advantage of the Lord’s excellent encouragement expressed with the words “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28) and open yourself to the One who came to console the weary. It would be a great success if we were able to break through the barricade of these material objects, which we often do not need and replace the place in the house, if we could find Him who is eternal, Creator of the ends of the earth (cf. Is 40:28).

As I watch this race, I think of the right, yet terrifying, words of the American Trappist T. Merton, in which he states: “The world is only a reflection of what most of his individuals have done to their souls.” Thus, a person who becomes more and more sterile inwardly seeks to satisfy his hunger in material goods. And the greater the need, the more empty it probably becomes…

At the beginning of Advent, a friend tried to answer her little son when he asked why Jesus was born so many times. This childish question, which should be treated with a pinch of salt, made me reflect a little deeper. This little boy, in his breakneck logic, noticed the essence of the approaching Christmas – the birth of Jesus, while adults in beautiful decorations more and more difficult to see the little baby who came to save us. The young boy was troubled by the problem of Christmas which is celebrated every year. This issue can of course be resolved, but how can you explain the failure to notice Christmas in your life and being closed to this holiday?