Tuesday-34 Week Ordinary Time - A

Do Not Be Deceived

Can you believe that next Sunday will be the 1st Sunday of Advent already? For me, it has just flown by.

When I was about 10 years old I remember being so excited about Christmas. At the top of my Christmas wish list was an electric football game. This was the one where you lined up all the little plastic players and then turned it on so that the bottom of the field would vibrate sending all of the players in different directions. When I got it I was truly joyful.

Fast forward eight years. I had become a very jaded and rebellious teenager. During Advent I became very depressed and could not understand why. The prospect of my parents asking me what I wanted for Christmas only irritated me. As I observed the world around me I had the sense that something was not right.

You’re probably asking yourself what is he talking about what does this have to do with today’s readings?

Well in today’s Gospel, Jesus is talking about the future. Specifically he talks about the destruction of the nation of Israel and what will happen at the end of time.

In all of this talk about destruction, war, and famine; there is this little gold nugget that we might have missed. In verse 8 Jesus says, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them!”

What’s the connection with my story at the beginning of my homily? As a child, I had a child’s understanding of Christmas and that understanding was about me. I was focused on my own wants and desires.

By the time I was eighteen, I was struggling with this concept. As I looked around at what television, my friends, and family were so wrapped up in getting. I let myself be deceived, which is exactly what Jesus warned us against. The secular world has so many distractions especially during the build up to Christmas. Today’s consumer culture tells us that we need to focus on ourselves and offers us all sorts of allurements in getting things. When we should be listening to Jesus’ message in stead we listen to those who falsely come in his name. That’s what today’s secular world is, they say don’t listen to God in loving him and loving our neighbor. Instead, we are told that what we really want is what’s good only for us and what makes us feel good, especially during Advent and Christmas.

What’s Jesus final part of that message? “Do not follow them.” My brothers and sisters, what I didn’t realize at eighteen was that God voice was starting to grow louder then the secular world’s message. Slowly but surely over a long period of time, guided by the Holy Spirit, I was being led to a new world where the focus was on loving and giving. A world where consumption and me was no longer the priority.

My wife and I spoke a while back about how giving cars as gifts for Christmas and valentine’s Day had become a thing. Not only did have to be a brand new car but it had to be a luxury model. This seems to be the height of the culture of consumerism.

My brothers and sisters, as Jesus’ says to today, don’t be deceived by today’s secular culture. They are falsely telling us to grab and to get when instead, deep in our hearts we should be hearing the true voice of God, telling us that he truly loves us. Telling us that we will only truly be happy when we love for the betterment of the other’s good. This Advent, as we are buying gifts, decorating our homes and attending Christmas parties, please also make some extra time in prayer with God and in helping those who are really having a tough time. Amen