Postponement and
Repentance

Read Fr. Kavanaugh’s Meditation

1. How did Fr. Kavanaugh initially portray Advent?
   He depicted Advent as an artificial and forced time of year, seen as a concoction to generate excitement about Christmas.
2. Why did he consider Advent to be fake?
   He considered Advent to be fake because it seemed like a contrived expectancy, pretending that the birth of Christ hadn’t already occurred, despite knowing the outcome.
3. How does his perspective on Advent change?
   His perspective on Advent changes by viewing it as an ongoing journey into deeper reality, recognizing that God’s entry into our lives is still psychologically unfinished.
4. What does he suggest the cycle of seasons teaches us?
   He suggests that the cycle of seasons teaches us that there is always more of ourselves that we can open to God, and that the Word of God can take on our flesh more fully.
5. How does he describe our ongoing journey of faith?
   The meditation describes our ongoing journey of faith as a continuous process where, as long as we breathe, there is always more of our lives to open, unbar, and unlock for God’s entry.
6. What does Fr. Kavanaugh identify as our common temptation?
   He identifies the temptation to think and hope that our conversion is complete and that we don’t need to acknowledge our need for redemption, preferring escape and distraction.
7. How does he interpret the words of Jesus in Mark’s Mark?
   He interprets the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark as not only a warning about the end times but also a call to live in the present moment and be awake, engaging with life and opening ourselves to God.
8. How does he describe our approach to confessing sins?
   Fr. Kavanaugh highlights our tendency to deny and postpone admitting our sins, often projecting blame onto others instead of taking responsibility ourselves. It suggests that confession and reform are rare compared to repression of the truth.
9. How does he describe the church’s response to confessing sins?
   He suggests that the church is not particularly noted for confessing its own sins and welcoming repentance. Rather, factions within the church often attack each other instead of acknowledging their individual guilt.
10. What is the theme of Advent according to Fr. Kavanaugh?
    According to Fr. Kavanaugh, the theme of Advent is “get real” rather than “let’s pretend.”
11. What does he propose we should make real during Advent?
    He proposes that during Advent, we should make real the need for God, God’s entry into our lives, and the truth of our own inadequacy.
12. What opportunity does he suggest every Advent presents?
    He suggests that every Advent presents an opportunity for the Word of God to take flesh in us again, allowing for a renewed self-revelation and giving birth anew to the Word in our world.