WHAT  DOES  YOUR  SPIRITUALITY 

LOOK LIKE?  MOVING  TOWARDS  FEAR  OR  COMPASSION? 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 3^rd Sunday in Advent is, “What Does Your Spirituality Look Like? Moving Towards Fear or Compassion?”

“What Does Your Spirituality Look Like? Are you moving towards fear or towards compassion?”

I wasn’t sure what words to use in my contrast: Fear or Compassion or what?

See if this makes sense – see if this helps - see what this triggers?

HUNGER FOR SPIRITUALITY

There are studies and statistics indicating that one of the main reasons people come to church and synagogue is for an increase of spirituality. People want meaning. People want a deeper faith, hope and charity in their life. Come Holy Spirit.

There are also studies and statistics indicating that people who don’t go to church, synagogue or mosque want spirituality. Check out the spirituality section of Barnes and Noble Bookstores, etc. I’ve noticed they have religious books and books from various religions - but they call the section of the bookstore: “Spirituality.”

Spirituality?

And some people have a God of Fear - whose job is to watch us.

And others have a God of Compassion - whose passion is to love us and who died on a cross - because people killed him because they didn’t like his message of mercy and compassion.

Why are you here? What do you want? What are you looking for? Why do you come to church? Why do you pray? Do you use the word “spirituality” in answering any of these questions?

ATTITUDE & OUTLOOK

I used to teach spirituality and I’ve given various talks on this subject – obviously being a priest.

I’m not an authority - I’m a B student in Spirituality or in  Life 101– but I have some ideas about spirituality.

Don’t we all?

At least that’s one of my key theories: everyone already has a spirituality.

It can be great, poor, or so so - clear or never thought about.

It’s called out attitude, our outlook, our viewpoint – our way of doing life.

Each of us has a spirit.

Agree or disagree? Before we walk into a room or a situation, our attitude precedes us. And after we leave a room, when someone brings up our name, our spirit comes sliding back into that room – even if we’re 500 miles away or even dead.

Mention a name and that person’s spirit comes knocking.

So instead of saying, “I’m looking for spirituality,” I would stress: take a good look at the spirituality we already have – and try to understanding what we have.

Then instead of saying, “I’m looking for spirituality,” say, “I’m looking for a deeper meaning to life.” Or say, “I’m looking for a better spirituality.” Or “I’m looking for a spirituality that satisfies my hungers.”

So people come to church for light. People take walks - to not only breathe - but to take walks to  go nowhere, but  to come home better for the walk. We also read. We pray. We have these two seasons every year called Advent and Lent – which stress growth and a heightened spirituality and prayer life.

Come Spirit of God.

We come to in-look to improve our outlook.

So we have Sunday Mass and adult religious ed talks – and Bible studies, etc.

FEAR OR COMPASSION?

Before I finish, let me go back again to that earlier question I asked near the beginning of this reflection: which is more me? Fear or Compassion? Which describes my take on God better: fear or compassion?

People can have a negative spirit or spirituality. People can have an outlook on life that is missing something. People can want God - but because they are scared and afraid. Or people might want to grow in human awareness - and be able to be there for others - especially towards those who need affirmation, attention or awareness.

Erich Fromm talks about religions whose main stress is “necrophilia” and other religions whose main strain is “biophilia” – translation: some religions stress love of life and other religions seem to be off on death.

Christianity has a history of strains of both.

Hopefully, our main stress and strain is “love of life” – starting with Genesis with God creating all of life and saying, “It is good.”  Let that sum up the Jewish religion and scriptures. Let these words of Jesus stress the meaning of Christianity: Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and live it to the full.”

So the question: What is my spirituality like?

TODAY’S GOSPEL

Today’s gospel gives us a hint about two types of spirituality – that of John the Baptist and that of Jesus the Carpenter.

If we read the New Testament, we’ll pick up that something was going on in the early church between the disciples of John the Baptist and the disciples of Jesus.

John the Baptist is sharp rock severe. He’s preaching desert and no fancy soft clothing. Jesus is here to help the blind to see, the lame to walk,  people with leprosy who are cleansed, the deaf to hear, the dead to rise, and the poor to have Good News preached to them.

For starters John the Baptist had his followers - but it’s my sense - that the entering the Kingdom of God - having that Spirit - is what we’re all looking for and that will last.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “What Does Your Spirituality Look Like? Moving Towards Fear or Compassion?”

I suspect a lot of people have to begin strict and severe, till they discover that life begins not in the desert - but leaving the Inn and discovering the baby as shepherd or king.

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Picture on top: The Good Samaritan by Delacroix, 1849