“Do Routine Things Routinely”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
December 1 – 2, 2018
Scripture: Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36
25 There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens* will be shaken.27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.28 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.34 “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise35 like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.36 Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
The Season of Advent is the beginning of the new Church year, and we are called to do penance…to prepare for eternity. The Lord is coming back, so what should we do? Look busy! Better yet…get busy!
Some people say they get nothing out of Mass….and they are right. But, the Mass is not for us or about us. It’s also not about the sermon, the music, the flowers, or the interior decorating. During the Mass, we become one with our Lord Jesus Christ and also give our body as a spiritual sacrifice to Him.
Make your life count, because there is no middle ground for salvation. Practice spirituality….do things over and over again to improve. When you do routine things routinely…like brushing or flossing your teeth…they become a habit, and you don’t even have to think twice about getting them done. This is how we prepare for Christ.
So, exactly how do you prepare?
• Participate in Mass more than once a week; in fact, go as often as possible.
• Go to Confession. Put it on your calendar; go every month, or every two months, but at least every three months.
• Practice charity. Give to those who are homeless or hungry.
• Do Penance. Practice self-sacrifice by forgetting about self and putting others first. Like Saint Therese of Lisieux, do small acts of penance all day…every day.
• Pray for one another. If you get nothing from your prayers, you aren’t doing it correctly….you are praying for yourself. Focus on the Beloved and not on yourself. Don’t worry if you get distracted; just refocus on Him.
Get into the habit of doing routine things routinely, and you will be ready to be embraced by His holy arms when He returns or when our death comes. I tell patients in Hospice that when they see Christ with a smile on his face and His arms open wide to go to Him and be embraced. A priest may not always be close by at the time of death. So, the Prayer for a Happy Death is a good one to pray often.
Prayer for a Happy Death (Ven. John Henry Cardinal Newman):
O my Lord and Savior, support me in my last hour in the strong arms of Thy Sacraments and by the fresh fragrance of Thy consolations. Let the absolving words be said over me, and the holy oil sign and seal me; and let Thine own Body be my food, and Thy Blood my sprinkling; and let my sweet Mother, Mary, breathe on me, and my Angel whisper peace to me, and my glorious saints and my own dear patrons smile upon me, that, in them all and through them all, I may receive the gift of perseverence, and die as I desire to live, in Thy faith, in Thy Church, in Thy service, and in Thy love. Amen.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you develop the habit of doing routine things routinely? Will you participate in Mass as often as possible? Will you go to Confession at least every three months? Will you practice self-sacrifice by forgetting about yourself and putting others first?