Last month I was able to make time for a pre-Advent retreat. I was invited to reflect on Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus. As I read the passage I was aware of how familiar it was; I knew what I had read and what I was going to read. After the first reading of the passage I decided to read it again, slowly imagining myself in the story. And to my surprise something completely unexpected hit me and remained with me. Following the visit of the angels to the shepherds it says that the shepherds “left running”. These were shepherds who were tending to their sheep on a hill-side, and they left running! I’m not sure if you have ever seen shepherds herding sheep, but I can’t imagine that these shepherds would have run with their sheep to see the baby Jesus. Yet they must have left them. They left their sheep!
These sheep were the shepherds’ livelihood, they were their security, and they left them. What an act of witness this is. They left the security of their lives to go to Bethlehem and visit Jesus. And what an incredible impact it had, not only on their lives, but others, too. Later in the passage it says, “All who heard the shepherds were impressed”. Others had seen that they had left their sheep, their security and livelihoods to go in search of Jesus. This act of witness is not on its own. In the Gospels we also hear about the fishermen, who were also called to leave their homes and families to travel with Jesus and spread the good news.
If I put myself in that position, I ask myself, ‘could I do that?’ Could I leave the security of my life, the people I love, to offer my life to Jesus? In other words, do I love Jesus enough to trust in him and his plan for my life? That might seem quite dramatic, but as a Catholic there are often times in my life when I have to give up or leave behind something I love for Jesus. For example, I have to leave the comfort and the warmth of my bed early on a Sunday morning to make time for Mass. I sometimes have to postpone plans with friends to spend time with Jesus in adoration. Or I make the extra effort to do something to help others, by putting my faith into action, which often takes giving something of myself.
Over the course of the past month, I have also been leading a ‘Faith in Action Award’ reflection point with a group of young people. We were reflecting on ‘We love because we are loved’. If I think about the love that Jesus has for me, then I know I have to do my best to love Jesus that much, too. Therefore, this Advent I have decided to ask myself this question: ‘Do I love Jesus enough to make time, space and opportunity for Him to be truly present in my life, so I can be His hands and feet on this earth, His eyes of compassion?’ This is the challenge I have set myself and will be used as an opportunity to prepare myself for the coming of Jesus. I will prepare my heart to welcome and love him with all of my life.
Kate Wilkinson (All Hallows, Preston Chaplain)