Free Be Vigilant: Daily Meditations for Advent by Michael Dubruiel Page B

respond to the singing of "dirges"...do we mourn?
    Or do we sit back in judgment?
    The Gospel is not something for us to watch and critique but rather it is a message that should engage us. "If today you hear his voice, harden not your heart."

Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
    To this day at the Jewish seder a place is set and an empty seat is reserved for the coming of Elijah. There are a lot of interpretations as to what this "empty seat" means. Some  argue that it really is left for the possibility of an uninvited guest or relative. But the sense of expectation remains.
    In our daily lives there is often the unannounced, the unplanned  guest or event.
    Our Lord in today's Gospel tells his disciples that Elijah did indeed come again in the person of John the Baptist, but they did not welcome him--they put him to death. He also predicts that this is ultimately how he will be welcomed.
    As we prepare for the Lord's coming, not only at Christmas but daily, what kind of reception will we give Him? Will the holidays crowd out any mention of him--will we in a sense put him to death? And what about the unexpected visits today -  how will we welcome them?
    The answer is up to us.

Third Sunday of Advent
    "Don't worry, be happy"--was a popular song about 14 years ago. It really was a Christian message. In today's second reading St. Paul tells the Thessalonians "Be happy all the times...because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus."
    A fond memory that I have of this time of the year when I was growing up in New Hampshire is that it seemed to be the time of the year that everyone was happy. It is harder to perceive if that still is the case, if people find this time of the year one of cheer and happiness, or just a lot of stress. Perhaps we have trod so far off the path of the true meaning of the season that we've been cut off of from the source of all happiness--Christ.
    I left part of Paul's passage out:  his recipe for happiness--"pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God." This is the secret to happiness, to ultimately see everything as some how tied into God's will.
    Try to do this for the next hour. Speak to God about all that troubles you, excites you, worries you. Give thanks for everything. If you are the recipient of slow service, a long line at the store--thank God! See what a difference it makes. "Don't worry, be happy."

Monday of the Third Week of Advent
    In many ways Advent is a season of unanswered questions that we anticipate being answered someday. In today's Gospel reading Jesus is asked by what authority he acts. He asks his questioners a question in turn, one that they can't answer and in the end refuses to answer their question.
    It is reminiscent of the God questioning Job.
    We all have questions about why evil exist, why God doesn't intervene more and on and on the questions go. What do we do with the unanswered ones?
    Our Lord refused to answer those who questioned Him because they were trying to trap Him. Perhaps that is the intent of our questions too?

Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
    O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.
    Today we have the tale of two sons. Both are commanded by the Father to go and work in the vineyard. The first says he won't, the other says he will. But guess what, the one who refuses relents and does what the Father asked him to do. Yet the one who originally said he would go, in fact doesn't. Jesus asks the chief priests and the elders of the people to tell him which of the two sons did the will of the Father...of course the answer is the one who vocally refused but relented and did it.
    Jesus uses the story to illustrate why harlots and tax collectors who repented at the preaching of John the Baptist are headed to the pearly gates, while the "religious" likely are headed in the other direction.
    I don't think it is a matter of us standing back and