1st Sunday of Advent
Year C

Signs come first.  In the world of occupational health and safety there is something called a “Near Miss Accident Theory” which accounts for how many near misses or warning signs occur before accidents happen.  For every 600 near misses there are typically 30 property losses, 10 lost time accidents and one major accident.

Advent is a time for us to slow down and consider the signs we ignore and the injury and loss that result.

Ignoring or ignorance is not the same as not knowing.  Ignoring is the refusal to acknowledge what is real and true.  The dizzying speed of our times supplies a ready excuse for our refusal to recognize the signs in our own heart, family and cosmos.  But now we have a communal excuse to finally slow down and avoid missing what is most real, true and close to us all.

This advent let us slow ourselves down to earth and acknowledge as deeply as we can the signs of our true calling from God.  The more generous and trusting we are the more clearly the signs will appear that lead to our vocation.

Blessed Advent 2018.

Mark Blom, OMI – Vocation Director