First Wednesday of Advent: Black Friday vs Jesus’ permanent offer

People fighting over a large TV in a box in an Asda store

Readings: Is 25:6-10A; Ps 23; Mt 15:29-37

On Black Friday, tens of thousands came, queued, and left empty-handed. Tesco, or some other outlet, offered the false hope of a cheap 52” plasma screen for all and many were left clutching at a cut-price kettle.

It’s easy to sneer at the pictures and videos of those fighting over TVs and X-boxes in such an uncouth fashion, and then to return to the internet and carry on our search for bargains on Cyber Monday in the more civilised surroundings of our homes, feeling terribly pleased at not having got caught in the physical melee and hysteria. Yet both involve the quest for cut-price consumer goods.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with buying stuff, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with trying to buy it at the best price: as religious in a vow of poverty it’s both necessary and an obligation given that we rely on the donations of others. The motivations behind trying to buy a new Bible commentary to provide more inspiration for Godzdogz posts and a Dad trying to get a plasma TV in the sale for his kids, which he otherwise couldn’t afford, so that they’ll enjoy their favourite films even more, can both be laudable.

However, Advent is a time to pause and to reflect on priorities, to think about what is ultimately of greatest importance and what moves us towards this and what gets in the way. We need to think about whether we’re looking for happiness in the wrong places, if we’re looking for shortcuts, when what is really needed is time.

In today’s gospel we learn that if we spend time with Jesus we will never go away empty-handed (or with a kettle that we never really wanted in the first place). Jesus says: “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry . . . .” (Matthew 15:32); and then when he does feed us there is a superabundance, there is so much more than what we need, but none of it wasted, it is collected up for others (Matthew 15:37).

Time spent with Jesus is never time wasted. If we keep vigil with Him, then we will be enriched and what will overflow from us will be a greater gift to those whom we love than anything we could possibly buy on Black Friday or Cyber Monday . . . even a novelty Christmas jumper.