Excesses

Third Sunday of Advent

December 13, 2015

Luke 3:10-18

“Stop collecting more than what is prescribed (Luk 3:13).”

We often think that having more is the sure path to happiness and greatness. Surely, it feels good to own high-end gadgets in our hands, rather than to see them in the hands of our friends. That’s why we work so hard to earn money and buy a lot of things, like fashionable clothes, electronic devices, cars, and more. The more we have, the better we feel. Prosperity is happiness. No wonder books on the secret formula of success and richness are mushrooming and best sold. We spend a lot money to invite management gurus or enroll in programs with great coaches. Even, preachers of various religious groups proclaim wealth as blessing and they sound pleasing to our ears.

However, the Gospel, through John the Baptist, offers us a radical shift of perspective. John told the people to live simply, be avoid excesses and share their surplus. Prosperity is not happiness. Yet, deep inside, we do not like the idea. It is counterintuitive, countercultural and as if we swim against the current of contemporary wisdom. We want to work harder, we like to earn more, and it just feel good to have money and things we desire. Sometimes, priests, religious brothers and sisters are not immune to this temptation. We work so hard, preach a lot, do a lot of ministries and we build many new buildings for our apostolates. We unconsciously are running after another form of prosperity. 

Yet, despite preaching against our desire, John is actually proclaiming a Good News, and what good is in having less? When Michelangelo was asked by the Pope, “Tell me the secret of your genius. Tell me how you have made the magnificent statue of David.” He answered, “It is simple. I just remove what is not David.” We are not less human when we stop having excesses, like excessive works, undue problems, complicated relationship, all things that are not essential. In fact, it opens up to other fresh and vibrant possibilities in life, and unforeseen opportunities to discover our true self. Let’s be honest. We are not truly sure what the key to success and happiness is. If we do, we have been as rich as Bill Gate or as powerful as Barack Obama long time ago. If adding things in our lives does not mean happiness, why don’t we just remove those unessential things all together?

John focused on the essential. When he was asked if he was the Messiah, he firmly said no, though it could have been a great opportunity. People of Israel would adore and give him the glory, but John remained firm in his decision. Because his refusal to heed the temptation, he opened up another creative possibility, he became the best man of the Bridegroom, the voice in the wilderness. He then effectively led people to Jesus.

The Advent season is a high time for us to slow down and ask ourselves, “I am working so hard, but am I doing the right thing? I have a lot of things in my hands, but are there really essential?” St. Thomas Aquinas once argued that God is so simple, and because His total simplicity, He was utterly beautiful and lovable. We were created in the image of God, and only going back to that simplicity of God, we are going to discover who we truly are. Like Michelangelo who chiseled out that is not David, we need to detach also those who are not us.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP