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When we
make preparations, like putting up the Christmas tree (believe it or
not, Christmas is only 134 days away) or baking a birthday cake for that
someone special’s birthday, it’s most oftentimes the case that we’re
preparing for something we expect to occur sometime in the near-term
future.
For the most
part, we organize our lives by preparing this way. And, I’d opine,
that’s a good thing. So much so, in fact, that the Boy Scouts have
made this way of life their official motto, “Be Prepared.”
The founder of
Scouting, Robert Baden-Powell, greatly enjoyed the outdoors, learning
about nature, and living in the wilderness as a youngster. After
Baden-Powell returned as a hero from his military service in Africa, he
discovered English boys reading the manual on stalking and survival in
the wilderness that Baden-Powell had written for his military regiment
so that his soldiers would always “be prepared.”
“Be prepared for
what?”, someone once asked Baden-Powell.
“Why, prepared
for any old thing,” said Baden-Powell, meaning, “whatever might be
reasonably expected.”
The training
Scouts receive in their troop is designed to help each of them live up
to the Scout motto. When someone has an accident, Scouts are prepared
because they received first aid instruction. Because Scouts practiced
lifesaving techniques, they are prepared to save nonswimmers if and when
necessary. When electricity goes out, Scouts can cook a meal because
they prepared for this eventuality by learning to create a fire using
the friction caused by rubbing twigs together.
“Be prepared”
wasn’t just being ready for the expected. Baden-Powell’s idea was that
every Scout should prepare himself to be a productive citizen and to
give happiness to other people. For example, to achieve the high
distinction of Eagle Scout, a young man must demonstrate good
citizenship not only in one’s community (including one’s church and
school) but also as a citizen of one’s nation (by knowing one’s rights,
duties, and obligations) and the world as well.
Baden-Powell’s
goal was that each and every Scout be prepared both in mind and body for
any reasonable eventuality and to meet with a strong heart the
challenges that life will present. “Be prepared for life” by living
happily and without regret and knowing that you’ve done your best.
This is what the Scout’s motto “Be Prepared” meant for Robert
Baden-Powell.
As important as
being prepared in that sense may be good for life in this world, that’s
not what scripture teaches us about being prepared. Contradicting human
wisdom—even good and noble human wisdom, like that of Robert
Baden-Powell—scripture teaches us not to prepare for what’s reasonably
to be expected in life. That makes just plain old common sense.
Quite the opposite! The divine wisdom contained in scripture teaches us
to prepare for what’s completely unexpected in life. As we
prepare to live our lives by expecting the unexpected, scripture teaches
us, we grow in the faith we will need if we are to see God present when
things in life go unexpectedly, as they surely will.
In this sense,
“faith” is not the “content” of a catechism that we’ve memorized.
Instead, we are told by the author of the Letter to the Hebrews, “faith”
is “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not
seen.”
Think about the
unexpected and its relationship to faith.
At some
unexpected moment, God appeared to Abraham, promising him a new life in
an unknown land filled with unknown possibilities. At another
unexpected moment, God appeared to Abraham, this time promising him a
son even though Abraham was more than 80 years old at the time. And, at
yet another unexpected moment, God ordered Abraham to take his son’s
life. Because Abraham prepared himself to see God in the unexpected,
what God promised Abraham in the unexpected became the foundation of
Abraham’s greatness.
At an unexpected
moment, God appeared to Mary, promising to make her the mother of God’s
only begotten son. “How is this possible?” she asked in sheer and utter
disbelief. At yet another unexpected moment, God appeared to Mary in
the blood of the Cross, promising eternal life to all who believe.
Because Mary prepared herself to see God in the unexpected, God’s
promises to Mary in the unexpected became the foundation of Mary’s
greatness.
Because Abraham
and Mary prepared themselves for the unexpected, they grew in faith,
“the realization of what is hoped for”—what God promised them and what
our hearts and souls also yearn for—“and evidence of things not
seen”—little glimmers at unexpected moments revealing God fulfilling His
promises.
The concept of
faith as the author of the Letter to the Hebrews has defined it is not
as abstract or beyond our power as we may think.
Think about what
it takes to be a teacher.
Really great
teachers approach their students and their work full of faith that the
personal and professional talents that teachers have to give students
can favorably shape, or even save, their students’ lives. It isn’t in
moments when everything is going along swimmingly as expected that
teachers experience fulfillment. No, more often than not, it is in
those moments when unexpected things happen that teachers see a glimmer
of what they hope for and find evidence of those things they have not
yet seen.
Extend this
concept to young people who come to the Church to be married in the
Sacrament of Marriage. How many young people enter into marriage
seeking to realize what they hope for and do so because they have
evidence of things they have not yet seen?
What young person
entering into marriage has any guarantee that the marriage will work
out? None! But, when young people enter into Sacrament of Marriage by
preparing themselves to see God in the unexpected, they will find
themselves as spouses animated by a vision of what they hope for and, as
they see God present as the unexpected unfolds—as it surely will in any
marriage, these spouses—just like Abraham and Mary—will find evidence of
things not yet seen.
“Prepare
yourselves for what’s expected,” is what the wisdom of this world tells
young people. So, what do young people who are preparing for the
expected do in order to see whether and how their expectations are going
to be met? They live together before marriage! Where’s the “faith and
trust in God and each other”?
For young people
of faith, approaching marriage is not based on preparing for the
expected but preparing for the unexpected. Young people entering
marriage have no guarantees, only faith that what they hope for will be
theirs and, in those unexpected moments that are sure to crop up in any
marriage, find evidence of things they have not yet seen. In those
unexpected moments, faith-filled spouses see evidence of future
possibilities whereas faith-less spouses see evidence of past failure.
Likewise for
parents. How many parents have children seeking to realize what they
hope for and do so because they have evidence of things they have not
yet seen?
What parent has
any guarantee that a child will grow in grace and wisdom before God and
humanity—as every parent wishes? None! But, as parents prepare
themselves to see God in the unexpected, these parents will find
themselves animated by a vision of what they hope for and, as they see
God present as the unexpected unfolds—as surely it will when raising
children in any generation, these parents—just like Abraham and
Mary—will have evidence of things not yet seen.
The wisdom of
this world tells parents, “Prepare yourselves for what’s to be expected
when raising kids today.” So, what do parents who are preparing for the
expected do to raise their children? Well, of course, they read those
“how to” parenting books! Then, they spend their time on the lookout
for signs that their children are making “normal” progress, at least in
so far as all of those parenting gurus have defined “normal.”
For parents of
faith, how they approach raising children is not based on preparing for
the expected but preparing for the unexpected. After all, when it comes
to raising children, there are absolutely no guarantees. But, in those
unexpected moments, parents of faith see what’s possible, that what they
hope for will indeed be theirs although not yet, and find evidence of
those things they have yet to see. Faith-less parents only see evidence
of failure.
For people of
faith, preparing for the unexpected is absolutely crucial, spiritually
speaking, because this type of preparation helps these people—young and
old alike—to grow in faith. While it may sound strange, we need to
prepare for the unexpected death of a spouse, child, friend, or
neighbor. If we don’t prepare, how will we see God present when an
unexpected death occurs? We don’t prepare for a child to turn away from
the pathway of holiness of life. But, if parents don’t prepare for
that, how will they see God present when a child does turn away from the
pathway of holiness of life? If we are to see God, we must prepare not
for the expected but for the unexpected.
Scripture doesn’t teach us that we shouldn’t prepare for what is
reasonably to be expected. Putting up a Christmas tree or baking a
birthday cake is a necessary part of preparing for expected, near-term
future events. But, while preparing in this way is important for life
in this world, what scripture teaches is absolutely crucial for life in
the next world is that we prepare for the unexpected.
We
prepare for the unexpected as we listen to the hopes the God has
breathed into our hears, believe in these things we hope for and, when
we are confronted by the unexpected, as we find evidence—little
glimmers—of those things we have not yet seen. Preparing for the
unexpected, we learn to see God present in those places we least expect!
When we
pattern our lives by preparing for the unexpected—when we “put on the
mind of Christ,” as St. Paul called it—we will see God present in the
unexpected, even if we find ourselves being nailed to the Cross of
marriage or of raising children. To live with this attitude is to take
a big risk, Jesus tells his disciples, as big a risk as selling
everything we own and giving the proceeds to the poor.
This
divine wisdom—this faith of ours—so contradicts the wisdom of our
world! How many young people, having little or no hope because they
have no guarantee that their marriage will work out have decided to live
together before marriage even though they know in their hearts that this
is no way to build the kind of marriage they feel in their hearts? Or,
how many parents, eager for advice so that they won’t make parenting
mistakes, read books written by “experts” who offer no faith perspective
on what it takes to raised children in grace and wisdom before God and
humanity? Is this not what every parent feels deep in their hearts
for their children?
Like
Abraham and Mary—this divine wisdom provides the sure foundation for our
greatness! Yes, as we prepare for the unexpected by heeding the faith
and morals taught by Scripture and Church Tradition, we will achieve
faith’s goal—our salvation!
A brief
commercial break...
With only
134 days left until Christmas Day, the people at Magnificat® produce a
companion edition for the season of Advent. Similar to a what older
Catholics may remember as a "prayer book," the companion edition
contains all sorts of prayers, readings, reflections, art, and
activities for every member of the family to prepare each day of the
season of Advent for the coming of Christ at Christmas.
Grandparents might consider purchasing a copy for themselves and copies
for each of their grandchildren. Confirmation sponsors might consider
purchasing a copy for themselves as well as the person they sponsored in
the faith. Spouses might purchase a copy for themselves and use it for
daily prayer during the season of Advent. Parents might purchase a copy
for the family and use it to lead prayer before dinner each evening.
At a
price of $3.95 for 1-4 copies plus $1 shipping/handling, $2.50 for 5-9
copies plus $3 shipping/handling, and $1.50 for 10-49 copies (plus $5
shipping/handling), the companion edition makes a perfect and very
affordable opportunity to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas
as well as an Advent gift to spur family, friends, and colleagues toward
greater spiritual growth during the season of Advent.
The
companion edition has a limited press run that sells out each year.
Furthermore, orders are filled in the order received. So, place your
order early.
To place
an order for the 2007 companion edition of Magnificat® for the season of
Advent, call
1-970-416-6670 or email
specialissue@intrepidgroup.com for ordering information.
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HOMILY
