Advent Reflection

By Fr. Andy Cribben, O. Praem.

Mark 13:1-37

When I was in high school and during my college years, I occasionally agreed to fill in as a babysitter for one of my sisters. I would babysit doing all the necessary activities, finally getting the kids to bed. Then, I could sit down and watch TV, listening for the kids and for the parents' arrival home. Inevitably, I would relax and doze off. The next thing I knew the parents were standing before me asking: "Oh, did you fall asleep? How did everything go?" My first reaction was to deny sleeping, feeling guilty, wondering if everything was okay. What I did not realize is that, when the parents had arrived home, they had already gone to the children's rooms to check on them. That's what caring parents do, check on their little ones.

"Watch!" Jesus says (Mk 13:33-37). Watch, not just for his return, but also for those for whom he himself was most attentive. Watch for the "little ones" of every sort.

I want to encourage you to read Mark 13, referred to as the "Markan apocalypse." Jesus is not prophesying about the end times so much as he is talking about the present time, whenever we are living. He is saying: do not be distracted by ornate temples or churches; do not be misled by those who claim to be the messiah; do not be distracted by wars or disasters, as if these indicate something about God, or the end. We are not to be confused by "powers" that are not of God.

Remember what Jesus made to be powerful? The powerful was that which appeared to be failure and weakness, namely, his life that led to the cross and resurrection. His life consisted of relating with the poor, the marginalized, the sick, etc. He had welcomed sinner, tax collector, prostitute, widow, orphan, and stranger. And he said: "Preach the Good News to them." (Mk 13:10).

In our world today we can be easily misled. We fail to watch out for those for whom Jesus looked. Instead, we are awestruck by money, wealth, status, possessions, "bling," etc. Both corporately and individually, we watch for and see "power" in a strong military, in homeland security, in international alliances with our "friends" against our "enemies". We see "power" in corporate board rooms and in investment portfolios. We see "power" in our personal wealth, mobility, and education. We see "power" in our ability to acquire and accumulate. We seek "power" and security by arming ourselves with guns and so with our wealth and readiness to do violence to others before they can do violence to us (preemptively), we feel less vulnerable, more powerful.

And we see weakness all too readily. We see those who are willing to talk with so-called enemies as weak and naive. We see those who humbly reconcile with former adversaries as chumps. We see those who protest non- violently, raising awareness for the sake of justice and peace, as unpatriotic, disruptive, and unappreciative of their "freedoms."

Instead, we ought to look for the signs of Christ and we will see him in acts of charity and kindness. We will see him in apologies and forgiveness, and wherever people are seeking peace. We will see him in non-violent and non-vengeful relationships, and in the poor and vulnerable. When we "watch" as Jesus exhorts us, not distracted by "powers" and "the powerful," we will see him with the vulnerable because that is where he was in his life.

God's power is seen in love, forgiveness, charity, compassion, reconciliation, and collaboration. God's power is not to be feared. God's power is the Gospel, lived! Let us watch for the "little ones." And let us live the Gospel, putting flesh on the Gospel in our time. Then, we will not be surprised at the Lord's coming neither in the timing, nor in the manner in which He comes.

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Fr. Andy Cribben O. Praem.

received a degree in Business Management from UW – Whitewater and a Systematic Theology degree from the Gregorian University, Rome, Italy. He also possesses a Spiritual Direction Certificate from the Claret Center in Chicago. Fr. Andy was ordained in 1994 and spent his first four years serving at St. Moses the Black Priory in Jackson Mississippi as an associate pastor and caseworker at Catholic Charities as well as the priory’s director of development. Fr. Andy has served on various committees since his return to De Pere: Diocesan Commission on Women in Church and Society, Abbot’s Council and St. Norbert College Board of Trustees. He was also the Director of Formation and Novice Master for St Norbert Abbey and currently serves as the Abbey’s Director of Vocations.