"There is no escaping the one thing necessary in the Christian life, namely saving our souls and purchasing the glorious liberty of the children of God." 1 ~Fulton J. Sheen
It starts just after Halloween. Go to the store to buy anything one is in need of, and chances are you will already see holiday decorations, a major modern indicator that Christmas is coming.
The onslaught of advertisements is more efficient than any military exercise. The ads are everywhere: in our mailboxes, on our mailboxes, in our electronic mailboxes, on our computer screens, phones, and electronic devices, in the papers, magazines, on the radio and on television. People call us and also stop by the house, selling. Can you think of any place where you can go these days where someone isn't trying to sell you something?
And then, there are the solicitations. We are solicited everywhere, often in multiple places by the same sources, most notably through social media. We are absolutely bombarded by the efforts of others to gain access to our money.
That is not to say that all the requests aren't worthy, or that people's intentions aren't good. More often than not, they are. Or at least, they seem to be.
It has all gotten way, way out of hand. Where can you go anymore and be free from people wanting things from you? Where can you go where people genuinely care about you.
We were meant for so much more than this.
"Symbolic it was that Our Lord was paid for out of the temple money which was destined for the purchase of sacrifices; more symbolic still was that He Who took the form of a Servant was sold at the price of a slave." 2 -Fulton J. Sheen
Holiday cards from businesses, solicitors, and charitable causes wish us well, and then ask us for money. The goal of sending cards and well wishes to people on special occasions should be to show genuine affection and care for the recipients. Since when did it become acceptable to use the holidays as an opportunity to send people cards asking them to give us anything? We should be giving instead.Modern marketing has become a tremendous assault against the dignity of the human person.
Let's all strive to live in imitation of Christ by keeping our focus on Him."Our Blessed Lord on the Cross might have made all nature minister to His wounds, He might have turned the Crown of thorns into a garland of roses, His nails into a sceptre, His blood into royal purple, His Cross into a golden throne, His wounds into glittering jewels, but that would have meant the ideal of sitting at the right hand of the Father in His Glory was secondary to an immediate and temporary earthly comfort. Then the purpose of life would have been less important than a moment in it; then the freedom of His Spirit would have been secondary to the healing of His Hands; then the higher self would have been the slave of the lower self- and that is the one thing we are bidden to avoid." 3 -Fulton J. Sheen
This Advent, let's change the world by focusing on Jesus Christ, and His Economy of Salvation.
God is at work in you!
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Sources:
1. Fulton J. Sheen, The Life of Christ (Garden City, New York: Image Books, 1977), p. 91.
2. Fulton J. Sheen, The Life of Christ (Garden City, New York: Image Books, 1977), p. 289.
3. Fulton J. Sheen, The Rainbow of Sorrow (Garden City, New York: Garden City Books, 1953), p. 90.