Get Caught!!

Stay awake, stay vigilant, be prepared, don’t be caught sleeping! Get ready!

Elf on the Shelf. The Elf spies on you during the day and travels back to the North Pole at night to report to Santa about your behavior. Let’s look at that from a theological viewpoint. God created these awesome heavenly beings called angels.

Understand that God is omnipotent. That means that He knows everything. However, the angels are His heavenly messengers that He has sent to guard you, guide you and watch over you. These heavenly beings will help you to be at your best at all times. In a way, the Elf on the Shelf who spies on us in the weeks before Christmas reminds me of how we should always be on our best behavior, relying on our angels to watch over us.

It’s so easy to get lost in the commercialism of Christmas in the secular world. But I challenge you to see through all of the chaos and business to prepare your heart to see God. Advent is a time of preparation in our Liturgical Calendar. As you prepare your homes for Christmas celebrations and hosting guests, reflect on who the main guest is in your heart.

As you dust off cobwebs on your Christmas decorations, what about the cobwebs in your own soul? Dust off those cobwebs with the Sacrament of Reconciliation! Frequently take part in the Eucharistic banquet to nourish you, body and soul, so that you can maintain and increase your stamina in order to get make it through this preparation season of Advent!

Preparation is always exciting; especially when you know that there is going to be a big event at the end of the preparation. At Christmas, we celebrate Jesus’ birth, at the heart of this celebration we are reminded of Jesus’ second coming. We never know when He will come again, so we don’t want to be caught sleeping- literally or figuratively. Don’t fall asleep in your faith. Stay awake in your faith! Stay alert in your faith! Keep up the stamina through everything that life throws at you so that you are always equipped to make the best decisions and to respond to everyone in love. In other words, get caught doing good!

The Elf on the Shelf is looking for you to do good things. But more importantly, Jesus is expecting you to do the best things. Get caught being your best at all times! Get caught praying on your knees to your Heavenly Father in thanksgiving for all that He has done for you! Get caught loving others more than yourself. Get caught serving the poor! But don’t do it for pride!

Pride is one of the seven deadly sins. Avoid it at all costs. Luke 14:14 says “you will be repaid with the kingdom of righteousness.” In other words, don’t boast or brag about yourself and your good deeds. God alone knows the good deeds that you do and the prayers that you say. It is enough to be satisfied knowing that our Living God knows all that you do. Let Him catch you! Get caught doing good!