Watching - Fr. Robert Lisowski

Fr. Robert Lisowski from the University of Notre Dame draws key insights from Newman's Advent sermon, "Watching". Newman tells us that we must be watchful everyday of our lives - watchful as to how God breathes His love into our lives and how we respond to that love. Watchfulness involves a consistent, expectant focus on God. Without this focus our eyes move inward and we tend to miss the small advents of our lives. This self-absorption elevates things of this world leaving us ultimately unsatisfied. Without watchfulness goodness is limited to a  worldly definition. Newman calls us to something more. We are not called to merely advance in this world rather we are called to mount toward holiness. The lack of watchfulness can lead to a "rusting" of the soul. Rust on a soul clouds and discolors the mirror within that is meant to reflect Christ. Rubbing off this rust, by embracing the Cross, permits the light of Christ to shine offering an advent of hope to the world. This hope is realized by being watchful for the coming of Christ - "life is short: death is certain; and the world to come is everlasting". To approach Newman's majestic thought it is highly recommended to download the formatted sermon at www.newmanontap.com. Comments and suggestions are appreciated on the same site.