Second Monday of Advent

Second Monday of Advent (Isaiah 24:1-18)

True repentance means conforming ourselves to the way of the Lord. In this reading for the second Monday of Advent from the Prophet Isaiah, we see the Lord overturning all of human society, because of the sins and transgressions of the people. To be pleasing in the eyes of the Lord, we must humble ourselves.

Yesterday you heard alot about humility.  Again today, there is that word and we are again reminded of the fact that in order to be pleasing in the eyes of the Lord, we must humble ourselves.

Humility is a difficult concept to, hmmmm,  wrap our brains around and to wrap our hearts around.  Here's why:  it takes great humility to understand humility.  Try to wrap your brain around that one.  Did you love CHRONICLES OF NARNIA?  Here is what the author writes about humility:  Christian humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less, as C. S. Lewis so memorably said. It is to be no longer always noticing yourself and how you are doing and how you are being treated.  And, why does it take great humility to understand humility? Well, because if you take a look at what is written in red, we are not inclined to think of ourselves less, we are inclined to notice ourselves, to be aware of how we are doing and we are certainly aware of how we are treated.  That's just human nature.  But, we are called to be pleasing in the eyes of the Lord, and obviously this 'humility-thing' is not going to be easy in today's world.

Well, of course it isn't going to be......we cannot do it on our own.  We can only do it with the power of the Lord.  Where do we start?  Prayer is a good place.  In your prayers, ask the Lord to open your eyes and your heart so that you may be humbled.  I've changed the words in red above and this may help you (the words are in blue now):  it is thinking of others MORE; It is to be noticing others more, noticing how they are doing more, and how they are being treated. 

I'm going to ask you again to look around (and because you are children your 'world' is rather limited as to the people at whom you will be looking) and look at someone near you or around you who might need a hand, or an encouraging word, or perhaps you have a pretty awful relationship with someone that could be fixed.  Taking the first step in repairing that relationship is a step in the direction of humility -- when you put someone else first.

If we think of humility, how much of a contrast or difference is the idea of making a list of what you want for Christmas and handing that list to your parents?  Think about it.

This week we are blessed to be able to talk about two wonderful examples of individuals who exemplified humility:  St. Nicholas (no, not Santa Claus), and Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Mary's response to the Angel Gabriel which is told to us in the book of Luke is one example of  humility:  'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.'  Luke 1:38.  Mary was a young girl with no idea of how the news that the Angle brought her was going to happen.  But, instead of questioning or thinking of a thousand reasons why she could not be obedient, her response was simply that whatever It was, she would be the Lord's willing servant.

Can you think of an example of the most perfect act of humility ever?

Maybe you can find a library book or do a google search and get some background info on St. Nicholas.  His Feast Day is Wednesday, December 6th and it is great fun to celebrate.

The word going round and round in your head and your heart and in your prayers should be humility.  With your stable getting cleaned and ready for the Savior, the first thing you will want to have there is humility.  If you have difficulty getting an image of humility, think of the Baby Jesus in a manger in a stable with Mary and Joseph.  The Baby Jesus depended on Mary and Joseph for everything - the same way that you did as an infant, and the same way that you truly still do now.