Thessalonians 3:12-13: “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before God….”
As we enter the holiday season of Christmas parties, shopping, and gift-giving, we begin the wonderful cycle of retail discounts. These shopping blowout sales provide benefits for retailers and consumers alike. Retailers enjoy revenue boosts, while consumers find deals on products that might be considered beyond their budget. We have all seen news stories of people lining up for days to wait for Black Friday deals. These stories always include unfortunate videos of people stampeding over each other to obtain these marked-down gifts; they reflect not only a consumer-driven culture but also raise deep questions regarding the value we place on material goods and the pressures to chase the deal. The increased focus on deals fosters a sense of urgency that can lead us away from the real reason for the season and toward impulsive purchases that may cause financial stress.
In today’s readings, we find an alternate call to urgently strengthen our love and commitment to God and each other. St. Paul, in our second reading, prays for an increase in love among the community, urging people to grow in holiness as they prepare for the coming of Christ. Jesus’ message in the Gospel reminds us that life can be full of distractions, anxieties, and temptations that cloud our focus on what truly matters. Jesus urges us to stay awake, be vigilant in faith, and keep our hearts oriented toward God; after all, life on earth is temporary. Our true and permanent home is in the kingdom of God. These passages offer us a time to reflect on where our urgency is in life, encouraging us to increase and abound in love for all.
Our first Advent Connecting Point asks, “How can I ‘spend less’ to please God?” It challenges us to spend less on ourselves so that we might increase for God and others. What does it mean to “spend less?” It doesn’t just refer to financial spending. Spending less means making conscious choices to limit what we invest in material things, our comforts, and even our own self-interests so we can make space for God and others. Spending less frees us to grow in love and use our time and resources for things that bring us closer to God and help us love others more generously. When we are centered on God, we are less likely to be overwhelmed by anxiety or caught up in marketing distractions.
Advent is a perfect time to reflect on how we spend our resources, energy, and hearts. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s arrival, we are invited to focus not on what we can gain but on what we can give! Jesus came not to be served but to serve, teaching us that love often means making sacrifices, putting others before ourselves, and spending less on our wants so we can give more to others.
