One of my favorite scenes in the movie The Avengers is when Tony Stark (Ironman) arrives on the control deck of the flying aircraft carrier and as he is talking points out a sailor who is playing a video game on his screen instead of doing his work. This scene is powerful because as they leave the control deck you get a quick glimpse of the sailor going back to playing the game.
Why do I like this scene? I think it gives us an insight into the troubles that can happen in our lives as we get distracted from what we should be doing. If you think about it, the sailor, was on duty and had a very important job as part of the greater team and clearly at this moment of the movie, he knows as does everyone else, they are in a life or death struggle. And yet, he was distracted and even when called to task quickly went back to the distraction of the moment and once more left the duty he was assigned to do neglected and undone.
While it gave a moment of levity during the movie, it also showed forth how we can let the distractions of life divert our hearts, minds and souls from our true purpose and goals in life. Which gets us to Advent and preparation for Christmas. It’s an easy transition to understand how the two moments, the scene for The Avengers and our Advent journey, can be seen as two sides of the same coin. I focus, as Christians, must always be on the Incarnation of Jesus and how this changes and transforms our view and understanding of the world. It is also easy to see how distractions of the “season” and of life can un-focus us from our true purpose and ultimate goal in life.
A conversation I have with couples preparing for marriage involves the goal and purpose of married life. When we discuss the promise of the forever-ness of the vows of marriage I like to use this example in understanding the goal of marriage, which is heaven of course, but heaven with the beloved at our side. The forever of our vows allows us to see the goal as present and attainable. If we look at marriage as just a non-permanent state then the problems and hurts of relationships can seem large like trying to climb Mount Everest, possible by some but usually only once, whereas the forever purpose and goal of married vows allows us to see the problems as hills, perhaps steep and difficult, but as we practice the climbs they become easier and are able to be traversed many times in life.
Our Advent journey becomes a vow of love where the purpose and goal aren’t to survive the four weeks coming out the other end exhausted and battered rather it is to see the Advent journey as the continuing mystery of life and love where we recognize how we can and do deepen and grow in our relationship with God and each other in faith, hope and love. The star beckoning us nearer to the Nativity of Our Lord is constantly drawing us into the presence of Jesus each and every day of our life, and ultimately to the Cross of Salvation.
We are just a week away from the day of celebration and the pace of preparation, parties and tasks moves ever quicker in our lives. Don’t forget to reach out in blessing towards those whom we love and meet throughout the days. Speak words of joy and peace looking towards the true goal and purpose of our Christian vocation. A vocation to seek and live holiness with our Lord Jesus today and all days.
God Bless, Fr. Mark.