{"id":95057,"date":"2015-12-12T00:27:05","date_gmt":"2015-12-12T07:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/markshea\/?p=95057"},"modified":"2015-12-09T01:29:20","modified_gmt":"2015-12-09T08:29:20","slug":"pastoral-associate-steve-pables-reflection-for-gaudete-sunday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/markshea\/2015\/12\/pastoral-associate-steve-pables-reflection-for-gaudete-sunday.html","title":{"rendered":"Pastoral Associate Steve Pable’s Reflection for Gaudete Sunday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

He writes:<\/p>\n

Pastoral Ponderings<\/p>\n

Reflections for St. Gabriel the Archangel<\/p>\n

Can you feel the anticipation?\u00a0 It becomes more tangible as the weeks go by, and the day draws closer.\u00a0 People young and old grow more and more excited.\u00a0 Stores and streets display cherished signs and symbols, and familiar music is heard everywhere.\u00a0 As we count down the days, some of us are delighted by giddy memories of childhood.\u00a0 Others are inspired by the cosmic significance of the triumph of Good over the powers of darkness.\u00a0 The energy builds as the season of expectation moves toward a long-awaited conclusion.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m referring, of course, to the new Star Wars<\/em> movie that comes out at the end of this week.\u00a0 What did you think I was talking about?<\/p>\n

Now, we could lament our culture, so saturated in marketing that a movie release might overshadow the celebration of Christ\u2019s birth.\u00a0 We could bemoan the fact that many children know more about the Jedi than they do about Jesus.\u00a0 But wringing our hands and pining for the good old days blinds us to the very thing that makes Star Wars<\/em> and other movies so compelling:\u00a0 they tap into our hidden hunger for heroes.\u00a0 The Gospel, the Good News of hope for humanity, is disguised in a myriad ways in our popular culture.\u00a0 We have a holy longing, as Fr. Ron Rolheiser named it, to acknowledge something greater than ourselves, to be known and loved, to sacrifice for a cause or a person, and to make a difference to those around us.<\/p>\n

This same hunger brought crowds to the Jordan River to hear John the Baptist.\u00a0 He brought a message of hope, but wrapped it in a challenge to change.\u00a0 Those who heard him became convinced of their need to repent, to turn from the way they\u2019d been on.\u00a0 There was more to life than what they\u2019d experienced so far; they needed something substantial to take home, not just a fleeting feel-good moment on the river bank.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat should we do?\u201d<\/em> they asked him. \u00a0Here in our troubled world, twenty centuries later, we echo their same plea.\u00a0 \u201cWhat should we do\u2026 in an age of senseless acts of terror and gun violence, under the cloud of a changing climate, troubled by refugee crises, threatened by financial insecurity, discouraged by the disregard for morality and human life, disgusted by divisive politics\u2026 What. Should. We. Do?\u201d<\/p>\n

John the Baptist dispenses advice for those who sincerely wish to turn their spiritual conversion into concrete action.\u00a0 Share with the needy. \u00a0Stop cheating and gossiping and complaining.\u00a0 And as always, John turns the focus on Jesus, the one Who will come after him.<\/p>\n

What would John tell us to do, if we\u2019re serious about changing?\u00a0 When I respond to the chaos and challenge around me, am I guided by fear or by faith?\u00a0 Are my reactions shaped by my passions? My politics?\u00a0 My predicament?\u00a0 My pocketbook?\u00a0 How can I instead seek first the kingdom of God?\u00a0 How can I embrace His priorities?<\/p>\n

Christ is the only one Who will satisfy our hunger and calm our restless spirits.\u00a0 He is the one to restore that joy announced by the prophet Zephaniah.\u00a0 If we look to Him, following the lead of His compassionate heart in this Year of Mercy, we will find a way forward, from darkness into light.\u00a0 When we remember \u201cthe Lord is near,\u201d<\/em> then we can know \u201cthe peace of God that surpasses all understanding.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

He writes: Pastoral Ponderings Reflections for St. Gabriel the Archangel Can you feel the anticipation?\u00a0 It becomes more tangible as the weeks go by, and the day draws closer.\u00a0 People young and old grow more and more excited.\u00a0 Stores and streets display cherished signs and symbols, and familiar music is heard everywhere.\u00a0 As we count […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[322],"class_list":["post-95057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-advent"],"yoast_head":"\nPastoral Associate Steve Pable's Reflection for Gaudete Sunday<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"He writes: Pastoral Ponderings Reflections for St. Gabriel the Archangel Can you feel the anticipation?\u00a0 It becomes more tangible as the weeks go by, and\" \/>\n<meta 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