Let’s not rush our Advent pilgrimage

In our December edition of the newspaper, we include a Year in Review of 2019. It is helpful to pause before the New Year and give thanks for the graces in our lives, to be aware and express gratitude for each gift the Lord has given us. But it’s not enough. We also need to consider how we are giving of ourselves.

Bishop Flores last month wrote about the grace of charity, the grace that serves. He said, “the love of God is a grace of love offered, recognized and returned.” He adds, “The charity of Christ does not save us by being recognized, it saves us by being returned, it saves us through our charity put into play within history.

After reviewing our past editions of the newspaper, the predominant themes that emerge in our diocese are those of generosity and love. The highlights come from the encounters that happen daily and the generosity of our community that supports life and reaches out to those in need — those who stand up bravely to speak for the unborn; those who help our brothers and sisters who are seeking asylum, hundreds of whom are in limbo waiting along the border in Mexico; those who reach out in their own communities, like Rio Hondo, to help families whose homes flooded in June.

The meditation in the November Magnificat for the Solemnity of Christ the King comes from the late Pope Pius XI, who tells us the Kingdom of God “demands of its subject a spirit of detachment from riches and earthly things, and a spirit of gentleness….they must deny themselves and carry the cross.”

Denying ourselves of anything seems to go against cultural norms where advertisers try to convince us to indulge, that we can have everything we want. We, as Catholics know there is grace in dying to self and living for others.

Through our Catholic Family stories we met people who live for others, who share their talents for the good of their community — the ‘bread angels’ who take food and faith to the peripheries of Donna, Lolis Flores, a young adult who uses social media to evangelize daily by praying the rosary live; Josephina Suarez who for 28 years has taken special care of priests and religious who find themselves at the San Juan Nursing Home; our religious sisters who work behind the scenes like Sister Maureen Crosby, a member of the Sister of St. Dorothy and Sister Rosalia Vadala, with the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi; and Daniel Martinez of San Benito, a Korea veteran who volunteered for three decades with the Jail & Prison Ministry. These are just a few of the stories.

The truth is we do not have enough pages to tell all the stories of people who inspire us to do more. While we celebrate their examples, my hope is that we can bring you even more stories in 2020.

As I consider my own personal highlights from 2019, what stands out are clearly the encounters with people with whom I have crossed paths, from whom I have learned from their example what it means to be a faithful servant of Christ. I am reminded daily, “Christ died so that I could live for him.”

However, as I ask myself the question, “Did I do enough? What more can I do?” I recognize I could do more. I need to do more. “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” James 1:22

So as the days grow darker and we near the end of another year, this Advent, a season of waiting, of preparing and anticipation, I commit myself to taking some time to discern what more I need to do.

I actually want to embark mini rebellion of sorts, and refuse to let the commercialism and frenzy that permeates December take me off course from Advent, this beautiful season of a holy longing for Christ.

What are your top milestones from 2019? How did you witness your faith? In what ways did God surprise you? How did you give of yourself? What were the special encounters?

Brenda Nettles Riojas is the editor of The Valley Catholic and the director of diocesan relations