This tone continues from that of last Sunday’s Gospel reading as we celebrated Christ the King. Jesus continues to urge our preparation:

“Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come” (Matthew 24:43-44).

What does this mean for those in recovery from addictions and unhealthy attachments? First, we must come to realize that nothing on this earth lasts, including the pleasures we’ve chased. As we find freedom from that which we were attached, it can be easy to resort to other seemingly less destructive substances or behaviors as a substitute. Therefore, we gather together in general recovery meetings to understand the wholeness of our spiritual condition through the shared experience of our fellows.

Furthermore, it is often the case that we must witness the collapse of our own kingdom before awakening to the Kingdom of God. In 12-step recovery, we refer to this as a spiritual awakening. It is through the realization of our own powerlessness that the Son of Man can stake claim to our lives.

Saint Paul makes the claim that each moment should be treated as our last. We can only meet God in the present, not in the past or the future. He alerts us in the liturgy’s Second reading this Sunday:

“You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:11-14).

The Twelve Steps of addiction recovery prepare us to stand before our Lord and structure our lives, one day at a time, to seek Him and His Kingdom for our ultimate fulfillment. The Power that we seek to direct our will and our lives is the same Power we seek as our Daily Bread—it is an enduring power that lasts.

This begins a season to shift our sights from the chaos of this passing world and the fleeting temptations of short-term satisfaction. Throughout Advent, we calibrate our focus to the Son of Man who reveals the love of God in our lives. We await our Lord’s coming with hope and patience, knowing that His presence withstands whatever chaos we may experience in this life. As the Serenity Prayer suggests, we ask God that we may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

Reflection Questions

• How have chaos and the collapse of your own personal kingdom brought you closer to God?
• How do you apply the principles of 12-step recovery to keep you from substituting one compulsive behavior with another?
• How will you be spiritually preparing yourself for the coming of the Lord this Advent?

Sunday Mass Readings

First Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11
Second Reading: Romans 13:11-14
Gospel: Matthew 24:37-44

Reflection by Scott W.

Printable General Recovery Meeting Reflection
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Printable Men’s Lust Recovery Reflection

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