The Sacrament of the Moment

We begin the season of waiting and joyful expectation with Isaiah’s famous vision of universal peace. Swords will be beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.

The Lord’s house will be established on the highest mountain. In scripture, mountains are sacred spaces where God's presence and authority are revealed.  Isaiah foresees countless peoples climbing the Lord’s mountain.  When that time comes, war will end.

As we continue to wait for that day, the second reading urges us to awaken and live as people of the light.  Paul reminds the Romans, and us, that our salvation is nearer than we think, calling us to be present and intentional, rather than drifting through our days half-asleep.

Finally, in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus reminds his disciples of the story of Noah. Before the flood, people were eating, drinking and marrying, and living their everyday lives up to the day that Noah entered the ark. Jesus calls us to remain vigilant, reminding us that nothing is certain except this moment.

The Sacrament of the Moment is the spiritual practice of being fully present and embracing each moment as a manifestation of God's grace. Every moment, no matter how ordinary or challenging, holds divine grace and holds an opportunity to encounter God. Experiencing God is not always a mountain top moment – grand and mysterious. God is also to be found in the ordinary, unspectacular moments of our day.

During Advent many people find themselves overwhelmed by the expectations they place upon themselves about how Christmas celebrations “should” be. Others feel a deep sense of isolation or loneliness during this season. By embracing each moment as a sacrament – a sign of God’s invisible grace – some may find themselves experiencing the season with a calmer, more peaceful heart. 

Christmas Connections

When we speak about the Sacrament of the Moment, it brings to mind Mary’s "moment" at the Annunciation.  When the angel Gabriel announces that she is called to conceive and bear the Son of God, Mary – despite any fear or confusion – embraces God’s will completely. She responds with the words, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).

Faith Sharing Questions

1. Are you able to find divine grace in the ordinary moments of your day? How or when?

2. What practices or rituals help you stay spiritually present?

3. Can you share a time when being fully present led to a deeper spiritual insight or connection?

4. How do you balance the anticipation of future promises with living fully in the present?

5. What can we learn from Mary’s example of saying “yes” to God?