"Are we ready to receive Him? Before the birth of Jesus, his parents asked for a simple dwelling place, but there was none. If Mary and Joseph were looking for a home for Jesus, would they choose...your heart, and all it holds? Let us pray that we shall be able to welcome Jesus at Christmas not in the cold manger of a selfish heart, but in a heart full of love, compassion, joy and peace, a heart warm with love for one another." (St. Teresa of Calcutta)

What a challenge for each of us, as we begin this new Advent journey! Jesus wants to come to us in a fresh new way this Christmas, to be born in us. But he can only come where there is a place of welcome, a heart full of love. Sin and love cannot co-exist. Jesus is love and only love can receive him. Advent is the time to cleanse our heart of anything that is not love. It is a time to intensify our love for him. How? By loving one another. Each time we show genuine love to another, we show love to him. Prepare the way for the Lord!

Homily First Sunday of Advent Year B

 

Reading 1: The reading begins with acknowledging God as Our Father and Redeemer.  It ends with once more with recognizing God as Father and Creator. We are the work of his hands. Then Isaiah admits our need for a redeemer. We have sinned and wandered far from the Lord. Our hearts are hardened like polluted rags. He cries for God to rend the heavens and come down to save us.  Bring about awesome deeds once more.

 

As we begin this Advent season, we are reminded that even though Jesus has come and saved us, we still sin and stray from the Lord. Even though God took on our flesh, we still stray from him. As he came before, we are asking Jesus to come in a fresh new way, so that our hearts can turn more fully to him.

 

What is the condition that the prophet indicates on our part? Would that he might meet us doing right; that we were mindful of him in all our ways. Our preparation for the celebration of Christmas during the next twenty-seven days is not only to acknowledge Jesus’ first coming into the world, not only to be aware of his promise to come again at the end of time, but to be expectant and attentive to his coming in the present moment.  He came to save, now he comes to unite us more intimately with himself in love. But if our hearts are full of unnecessary distractions, unrepentant sin, then how can he find a place for himself in us?

 

Gospel: Advent is a time to be watchful and alert, not in fear but in expectant hope. The Lord desires to come in a fresh new way into our heart to keep his life in us renewed.  Will he find us open and expectant? Sometimes we live our lives in a state of disarray, our hearts in shambles, cluttered by distracting habits.

 

 It is like a college student, who parties with friends and whose apartment is in shambles with trash, dirty dishes, etc. Would he want his parents to come unexpectedly and see all of this? Not really. Yet, we are at times spiritually living in the midst of accumulated trash. What would Jesus find if he comes unexpectedly? 

 

On the other hand, if the college student kept his apartment clean and uncluttered, it won’t matter when his parents came. Advent is a time to do some fall cleaning in our lives.

 

We heard last Sunday what we did to the least we did to Jesus. He comes and came in his word which we hear in every Mass. He comes in the Eucharist. He comes with his grace at different moments of our lives to sustain and renew us. He comes in the silence of our hearts as we spend time in prayer.

 

How we recognize and respond to his present coming will determine how will we respond to his ultimate coming. As we are watchful and responsive in the present moment to his coming in a variety of ways, we will be alert and ready when he comes in glory either at the moment of our death or at the end of time. If children are excited in anticipation of Santa Clause with his gifts, should we not be excited in anticipation of Jesus with his gift of eternal life and glory. Watch and be alert.

 

Reading 2: Why does the Church choose this reading as we begin a new season of grace? We are being reminded of the many blessings we have received. Because we have fellowship with Jesus we have been enriched with all the spiritual gifts we need. God has given us grace upon grace so that we may be found worthy when he comes.  Advent is that time to renew our awareness of the journey we are on—a journey to the Lord. It is time once more to put first things first. It is a time to be attentive to the various ways Jesus is coming in the present moment, so that we will not miss the grace of his final coming in our lives.

 

How? By being attentive to the word of God, to avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, uncluttering our lives of sin, of being attentive to the times we can exercise the spiritual and corporeal works of mercy. 

“Remember the past with gratitude. Live the present with Enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with confidence.”- St. John Paul II

A simple admonition from a saint, but maybe hard to live by the sinners we are. We may find ourselves saying: We remember the past with regret. We live the present with fear. We face the future with anxiety. And we wonder why we have such a negative attitude about life? This is not what inspired the saints like St. Paul who said: “And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:15-17)

 

This is how we can “remember the past with gratitude; live the present with enthusiasm; look forward to the future with confidence.” Thanks be to God! 

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: GOSPEL YEAR B

Jesus said to his disciples “Be watchful! Be alert! 

During Jesus’ time a Roman soldier could face execution if he fell asleep during guard duty and allowed the enemy to penetrate the camp.

·How watchful are we against the spiritual enemy who wants to draw us away from God?

You do not know when the time will come. 

·There are two words in Greek for time: “Kairos” and “Chronos.”  The first conveys that that moment is a crucial, decisive moment in a person’s life. The second is the ordinary way we understand time, as another moment in life.

·That “Kairos” moment is the time of our death and judgment before God.

It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. 

·These are the four Roman watches of the night:  Evening watch (6:00 - 9:00 p.m.); midnight watch (9:00 - midnight); cockcrow watch (midnight - 3:00 a.m.); and dawn watch (3:00 - 6:00 a.m.).  Note that they are all nighttime watches.

May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'" 

· What does it mean to you to be watchful, stay awake?

· Jesus reminds us that he will come again. What effect does this realization have on the way you live?

· What changes should be made in your life in order to respond attentively to the message of Jesus in today’s Gospel?

· It may be good to develop the habit of praying daily  “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!”  as a way of reminding yourself of the Gospel message:

·    As we begin this Advent season, what are we watching for? Is it not the coming of Jesus in the present moment of our lives? How attentive are we to the comings of Jesus throughout our day, week, month? If we are watchful in the present moment, what will be different when he comes in that final kairos moment of our life on earth?

 

 

"To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us -- and He has given us everything.  Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.  Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God.  For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience.  And that is what makes all the difference." (From "Thoughts In Solitude" by Thomas Merton)

 

True gratitude is not only being aware of the blessings we have received from God, but expressing our thanks to God in some external way.  What are you most grateful to God for?  For me it Is a share in his own divine life.  Yes, I am grateful for being created in his own image and likeness. But it is the new creation that excites me. My physical life will come to an end but my life in God will continue through all eternity. And the best way I can show my gratitude to God for this amazing gift is to remain in him every day, free from serious sin. Even this can be done only with his grace. 

“The proper order is first to render thanks to God, then to confess our sinfulness, and repent of it, then to submit our petition.” (St. Jerome)

This week we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. But every day should be one of gratitude from our heart.  Most of us spend more time in asking God for our needs and the needs of others than we do in praising and thanking God for his many blessings. Recall the ten lepers who came to Jesus, seeking healing. When they were healed, only one came back to offer thanks. Because of this, he is further rewarded. He was given something he didn’t ask for, salvation.

 

A grateful heart is opened to greater blessings. A heart that focuses mainly on self, closes in on itself.  Spend more time in gratitude than on petition and see how your petitions are answered.

In the funeral liturgy one of the prayers that is said ends this way. "Merciful Lord, turn towards us and listen to our prayers: open the gates of paradise to your servant and help us who remain to comfort one another with assurances of faith, until we all meet in Christ and are with you and with our brother/sister for ever."

One of things we sometimes fail to remember at the death of a love ones is that they are still living. If they died in Christ, they are with Christ. If we die in Christ, we shall also be with Christ and with them. We shall see them once more, sharing in the life of Christ eternally. I believe that at death the first person we will see is God, waiting to welcome us into his presence. And there with God will be our loved ones, waiting to welcome us into the joys of eternity. What a party that will be! What stories that will be shared!

It is this aspect of our Christian faith that gives us hope and peace at the time of the death of loved ones. After we mourn our lost, we should cling to the hope of seeing each other again face to face.

 

“We are in movement along the path. When asked where we are heading, we say, ‘Towards heaven!’ ‘So what’s heaven?’ some ask. There we begin to be unsure in our response. We don’t know how best to explain heaven. Often we picture an abstract and distant heaven… And some think: ‘But won’t it be boring there for all eternity?’ No! That is not heaven. We are on the path towards an encounter: the final meeting with Jesus. Heaven is the encounter with Jesus.” (Pope Francis)

 

Have you ever thought of heaven as a final encounter with Jesus, who leads us to the Father and the Spirit? We have seen pictures of Jesus, but our encounter with him after death will be as different as between a one-dimensional flat picture and a three dimensional reality. Any encounter we had with Jesus in our human existence will not compare to the reality of seeing him face to face in the fullness of his glory. While our human encounters made a difference in our life, the encounter we will have in heaven will be the beginning of our eternity. That is why Paul says “eye has not seen and ear has not heard” what God has in store for those who love him. 

How I long for this encounter of encounters!

 

Homily: Feast of Christ the King

 

Reading 1: The focus of the first reading is God is a Shepherd and a Judge. The prophet Ezekiel realizes that the people of his day, though chosen by God, have been misguided by those who were appointed to shepherd them. Even though they are in exile, God does not abandon them. He will be their Shepherd when they are truly without a shepherd.

 

How often have we felt abandoned or neglected? At times, we have run away from God. At other times we have not been properly cared for. In any case, God reminds us of his fidelity to his promise. “I am your God and you are my people. I have made a covenant with you and I will be faithful to it.”  He leaves us free to remain with him or to stray. If we stray he will seek us out, but will never force us to return to him.

 

The symbol of the sleek and strong are those who choose to go their own way without relationship with God. Their choice will lead to self-destruction. Those who know they need God in their lives, even when they have strayed, will turn to him. He will heal them and care for them once more. The last verse connects us to the Gospel.

 

There is a comfort and a convicting challenge in the first reading. The comfort is that God will shepherd us even if we stray and feel lost. God will seek us out and not neglect or forsake us. The challenge is that the Lord will come to judge us for we are accountable for our actions.

 

Gospel: Jesus is seen as judge of the living and the dead. The first reading sets the scene of the separation of the two: sheep and goats. The sheep or the elect are those who chose to belong to and place themselves under Christ’s leadership. They surrender their lives into his hands. On the other hand, the goats have chosen to go their own way. They choose to be self-sufficient and independent, choosing what satisfies them for the moment, whether it is in accord with God’s plan for them or not.

 

The basis of God’s judgment is to what extent we did or did not show love to others.  It will be comforting to know that what we did in love, even to the least person, we did to Christ. The convicting challenge is that we did not show love to those God allowed to cross our path. For even these are God’s children. When self is the center of our focus and not others, then we will experience the emptiness of self without others.

Here is a story that illustrates what Jesus is saying. “A man died and was about to enter heaven. However, before doing so, he asked St. Peter if he could have one look at hell. He was taken there for a brief tour. He saw a magnificent table set with every manner of delightful food, with people all around the table. They had chopsticks but the chopsticks were four feet long. What food they could grasp they could not put into their mouths. Hell was filled with the sounds of anger, frustration and hate. Content with what he saw, he went to heaven. Much to his surprise; he saw a table of the same size filled with the same delicacies piled high. Those sitting around the table also had chopsticks, and the chopsticks were four feet long. However, each one at the table was carefully picking up the choicest morsels he could find and was feeding them to his neighbor, who in turn did the same for his neighbor. Heaven was filled with sharing, loving and laughter.”

 

Reading 2: There is comfort in Paul’s words. The kingdom of God is the kingdom of light and life not darkness and death. Jesus through his death and resurrection has conquered the second death, which is eternal alienation from God. He has conquered the eternal consequences of human death, which is the eternal destruction of the body. In his resurrection our body will rise and be reunited with our spirit either for eternal glory or eternal condemnation.

 

This should give us great comfort to know that there is life after death. For those who choose to act in love towards others, especially the marginalized, will receive the award of love: life with God. Those who choose to be in the kingdom of God, choose Jesus as the Lord and King of their lives.

 

In the first reading, we hear of God as Shepherd and Judge; in the Gospel we hear of Jesus as King and Judge; in the second reading we hear of Jesus as the Resurrection of the Life for those who live and die in him and under his rule as King and Lord.

 

Our reflection on heaven continues. We read in the Book of Revelations: “I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and Our God himself will always be with them [as their God].  He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.’”

 

What is that old order?  The struggles of our earthly existence, which will now be over. Fear of suffering and dying will no longer hold us in bondage. In fact, nothing more will be able to happen to us, except what will bring us true peace and unending joy. This joy of heaven is to see the face of God in all of his beauty, glory and power.  In seeing, we do not have to hide our face because we share in his own diving life.

 

Knowing this we should not remain in sadness when our love ones go to the Lord. Rather, we should rejoice with them as we long to be with them, sharing in the joy of the Lord. 

Feast of Christ the King: Gospel Reflections A

Jesus said: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. 

· When the Son of God came the first time, He humbled himself for our sake. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. When He comes again, He will come in all his glory and power as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

· The phrase, Son of Man, is Jesus' favorite way to refer to himself. Cf Daniel 7:13-14

· Besides the title, Son of Man, what three other titles are used of Jesus here in this parable?

And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

· Besides the sheep and the goats and the wheat and the weed, what other examples in the teachings of Jesus do you recall the theme of separation?

Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.

· An inheritance is a totally unearned gift or bequest left by another in a last will and testament.

· The criterion of judgment will be the deeds of mercy that were done out of love for the least among us.  These six deeds of mercy or of loving kindness are found throughout the Old Testament, as ways people are to respond because of their relationship to God.

· Are these extraordinary acts or ordinary ones?

Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' 

· What does their response say about why they did what they did?

And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' 

· The bottom line for God is living out the Commandment of Love in our life.

· In the first instance, the judgment is based on commissions—things done with the right attitude; in the second instance, the judgment is based on omissions—things not done and not basing one’s life on love.

And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." 

· Looking at my life within the above parameters, how will God judge me?

· What attitudes need changing in my life so that I can reflect what God is asking of me through these words?

· As I reflect on this passage, where do I feel challenged? How will I apply this message in my life this week?

 

“What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him,” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

 

This is a good starting point when we ask the question: “What is heaven like?” We have many images of heaven. But they cannot adequately express the true reality of what life in heaven will be.

The central truth concerning heaven, as stated in the Catholic Catechism, is union with God. 

The Catechism explains that “perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity . . . is called ‘heaven.’ Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness” (CCC 1024). It also states that “heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated into Christ” (CCC 1026).

 

This union with God begins on earth, in time and at the moment of our baptism and it is completed when we die in Christ, so as to live in Christ for all eternity. It is a union of perfect love. This is the pearl of great price, which Jesus speaks of in the scriptures. If we are living in union with God in the present moment, don't let anything or anyone distract us by offering us a fake pearl. For this union with God is our ticket to eternal union with God. Otherwise we will be like Esau who sold his birth right, his inheritance, for a pot of broth. 

Does our life have a purpose? Are we here for a period of time and that’s it? Gratefully, the answer is yes to the first and no to the second. We are destined to be with God, sharing in his eternal life.

 Jesus sent the disciples out to evangelize and prepare the way for his ministry. They went and did what he told them to do. They witnessed people being set free from bondage and healed. They came back to Jesus, rejoicing. But Jesus focused their joy. Because they were obedient and did what Jesus told them to do, they experienced signs and wonders. But Jesus wanted them to rejoice in what is more important, not the signs and wonders, but “rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

 Will our names be written in the Book of life when we die? They will if we are obedient to the will and plan of God in our lives. God has created us, redeemed us, sanctified us and missioned us. Ours is to respond in obedience.  Like Paul we need to remember our many good deeds and our bad deeds are nothing but rubbish. Like Paul we need to keep our eyes on the prize.  “I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) What is this prize? Eternal life and joy with God with our names written in the Book of life.

 

  

"If death comes to us  an unwelcome stranger, it will be because Jesus also has always been an unwelcome stranger. For when death comes, Jesus comes, bringing us the everlasting life he has bought for us with his own death." (Thomas Merton) 

What a consolation! We will not be alone in death. Jesus will be there to usher us into the everlasting life of glory. People, who have an after life experience, say there is a bright light that draws them. Jesus is the light of the world. Is this an indication that Jesus is waiting for us and inviting us at that moment to share his eternal life? At the end of our earthly life there will be the joy of seeing God face to face, as long as God has not been a stranger to us but a friend. Abiding in Jesus now will mean abiding with him eternally. 

"Let us therefore run forward, singing: It is good! And for him who runs to meet God nothing is past and lost forever. God has already bestirred himself and is quite near in the impatience of that love that makes all things new. He is near! Our past fickleness is the starting point of the eternal God. Glad tiding! We are running towards God--and he is already near." (Karl Rahner) 

What an attitude to have! Are we among those who are running to meet God or are we among those who are running away from God? Both groups will meet God eventually. The former will meet him with joy and fulfillment. His judgment will be blissful. "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the Kingdom prepared for you." The later will hide their face from God because his judgment is both fatal and final. "I do not know you. Out of my sight."  One will experience an eternal light and life. The other will experience darkness and the second death. O God, help me to be among those who accept and act on your grace of eternal salvation.

 

Homily: Thirty-third Sunday Year A

 Reading 1: I am sure some husbands may say, I wish my wife was like that. At the same time, I am sure some wives may say, I wish my husband would entrust his heart to me, not just at the time of marriage, but throughout our lives.

 

What is the key phrase of the worthy wife, whose value is immeasurable? She “fears the Lord.” What is this exactly? There is a natural emotion of fear. Examples are if we see a poisonous snake, a charging grizzly. Then there is a spiritual gift of fear of God. This is not fear in the human sense, but awe and wonder of the very being of God. Who am I to gaze on the loveliness of God, to be blessed by God, to be in very presence of God? It is the reverential respect of the person of God.

 

The valiant woman’s life flows from a right relationship with God and, therefore, a right relationship and self –worth in relationship with her husband, her children, her neighbors. She knows who she is as a daughter of God. She knows her purpose in life is to be with God forever, as well as to lead her husband and children to the Lord.

 

Gospel: What was the basis of judgment for the servants? Faithful service in small matters. What was the reward? Sharing in the master’s joy. What are the gifts and abilities that the Lord has entrusted to us? What are we doing with the natural and spiritual gifts and graces? How faithful have we been?

 

The third servant had a fear of the master’s expectations. He let fear paralyze him, rather than see and respond to the generosity and trust of the master in him. The other two saw the master differently? They respected him and anticipated what he wanted them to do.

 

What is the greatest gift God has given us? Life, not just human life, but a share in his own divine life. At baptism we became a child of God.  What have we done with this gift? Are we growing in our relationship with God or have we squandered this gift through sin?

 

On the day of judgement, when the Lord returns, seeking an accountability of our years of human existence as his servant/disciple, will we have grown in our life with God or will we have nothing to show. The first two disciples were in awe of the living God and wanted to do that which pleased him. The third disciple feared the Lord, not in a reverential way but with human fear.  He had nothing to show for the great gift entrusted to him.  Sharing in the divine life of God was not that important to him.

 

Reading 2: The Day of the Lord can be seen from two different aspects. The Day of the Lord is the coming of the Son of God in glory to judge the living and the dead at the end of the world as we know it. It will come as a “thief in the night” we will not be able to predict it. It is only known by God. There will be signs alerting us. Another way of looking at the Day of the Lord is that it is the day of my own death. No one can predict it. Both realities are true.

 

What is Paul’s point? Be prepared. The children of light living in relationship with God live with this reality as a given and are prepared for either. Their reward is eternal life with God. But the children of darkness, living in unrepentant sin, are caught off guard. Eternal ruin is their reward.

Can we prepare for death and if we can, how do we?  Pope Benedict XVI was asked this question. Here is how he responded. 

"I think one must, even. Not in the sense of performing particular actions, but living inwardly, so that there is a final self-examination before God. So that one goes out of this world and will be there before God, and before the saints, and before friends and those who weren’t friends. So that one, let’s say, accepts the finitude of this life and approaches it inwardly, to come before God’s countenance."

We prepare for death by acknowledging the inevitable, not in a morbid way, but as a reality of life.  The way we live our life in relationship to God in each present moment will determine the final verdict at the time of judgement. In a sense, the most important moment in our life is the moment of death. If we are in relationship with God at that moment, we will experience that relationship for eternity. On the other hand, if we are not in relationship with God at that moment, we will experience that for eternity. We reap what we sow.

.

 

 We are created to live, to live a life that has no end. Life is more than the physical existence that we experience. If we limit the spectrum of life to what we see--a person is born, a person lives for a period of time, a person dies--then death seems to end life. Reflecting on this, Pope Francis once wrote: "If it is understood as the end of everything, death frightens us, it terrifies us, it becomes a threat that shatters every dream, every promise, it severs every relationship and interrupts every journey." But death is not the end of life for those who believe in a God who lives. Rather, death is the entrance to and the beginning of the fullness of life.  With St. Paul we can proclaim: "“Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 55:54-55)

Are we to prepare for death? "I think one must, even. Not in the sense of performing particular actions, but living inwardly, so that there is a final self-examination before God. So that one goes out of this world and will be there before God, and before the saints, and before friends and those who weren’t friends. So that one, let’s say, accepts the finitude of this life and approaches it inwardly, to come before God’s countenance." (Pope Benedict XVI)

Since death is a reality in each person's life and since our eternity is determined how we lived in relationship to God in this life, we should prepare for death. No one, who desires to be a doctor or lawyer, would fail to prepare for the bar exam. Because it is so important to them to be certified as a doctor or lawyer, they want to do their best on that final exam. What is more important than life after death? Will we take a chance by rolling the dice or by living today in relationship with God? One is a gamble. The other is an assured promise of God. 

 

 “The right to weep must not be denied. Even Jesus was deeply moved and profoundly troubled by the bereavement of a family he loved. We can, instead, draw from the simple and powerful witness of many families who have known how to grasp, in the difficult passage of death, also the safe passage offered by the Lord, crucified and risen, with his irrevocable promise of the resurrection of the dead. The work of God's love is stronger than the work of death. We must seek to be 'accomplices' to that love, with our faith. … Death was defeated by Jesus on the cross. Jesus will restore all of us to our families.” (Pope Francis)

 “Even death is illumined and can be experienced as the ultimate call to faith, the ultimate “Go forth from your land” (Gen 12:1), the ultimate “Come!” spoken by the Father, to whom we abandon ourselves in the confidence that he will keep us steadfast even in our final passage.” (Pope Francis)

Only faith in Jesus Christ, the Conqueror of the second death, can make sense of the first death, which all will experience. It is this faith that allows us to trust in the One who has created us for himself. For we believe that death will open us up to a new dimension of the fullness of life. For we were created to live forever in God's presence. But this will be possible only if we live and die in Christ. What a joy it will be to close our eyes at our last moment in this life and to open our spiritual eyes and see God in all his glory. In embracing death we will be able to embrace God who awaits us.

 Dear friends of Spiritaflame ministry,

I would like to enlarge the list of contacts for Spiritaflame. This can be done in two ways.

One, you can add your friends' email address in our contact list.

Two, you can send me the names of email addresses of some of your friends whom you feel may benefit from the messages I send out. Then, I will type them into our data base so that they can begin receiving the spiritual messages on a regular basis.

Thanks for your support of Spiritaflame outreach. At present I have over 4000 subscribers, of which you are one.

Bishop Jacobs

 

Homily: Thirty-second Sunday Year A

 

Reading 1: There is human, natural wisdom and there is divine, spiritual wisdom. One is a natural gift we receive in birth, but the other is a gift given to us in baptism. What is this spiritual gift of wisdom? It enables us to perceive things as God perceives them. We are able to see things from God’s perspective. Though it is given in baptism, we must learn how to exercise it for the gift to be useful in our spiritual journey. In the first reading we read: “She is readily perceived by those who love her and found by those who seek her.”

 

One of the ways of exercising this spiritual gift of wisdom was shown to us by Jesus, when he spoke words of wisdom for the benefit of others. For instance, when he saw people putting money in the Temple treasury, he noticed a poor widow and her gift. Jesus said she gave from her need to glorify God, while the others, though good, gave out of their surplus.

 

Do we ask God to be able to see from his perspective rather than from merely a human perspective? It is easy for us to be wise in the eyes of the world, but are we wise in what pertains to God? To be spiritually wise leads to right order and right relationships according to God’s plan.

 

Gospel: The parable in the Gospel ties in with the natural gift as well as the spiritual give of wisdom. It is called the parable of the wise virgins. Jesus uses a human experience of his day: preparing to receive and welcome a bridegroom for the wedding feast.  But the application is welcoming Jesus, who invites us to share with him the eternal banquet of heaven.

 

The natural wise were not prepared for the eventuality of any delay. On the other hand, the spiritually wise virgins were prepared. Because they wanted to share in the eternal banquet, they brought with them an extra amount of oil for their lamps.

 

Eternal life is a non-negotiable desire of our hearts, how will we live and act to be prepared to experience it at the time of our death? If nothing is more important to

us then we place a high priority on our readiness. Others can’t prepare for us. They can pray for us and encourage us, but is our choice.

 

For Jesus not to know me means that he knows that he was not the priority in our lives, not the Lord of our lives, even though we use the word.  Not to be known by God is tantamount to eternal alienation from God. We don’t know when our time will come. But like the wise virgins we need to seek God’s will in every situation.

 

Reading 2: Perceiving things from God’s perspective leads to revealed truth which natural wisdom is not able to penetrate. What is that revealed truth? Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection those who have died in Christ will live in Christ eternally and their bodies will be raised up on the last day.

 

We profess this truth each Sunday in the Creed. But are they words or conviction? If conviction, do we live each day as if it could be our last, so that we can be with God forever in glory? The gift of wisdom gives us a consolation in the beyond which mere human wisdom cannot do. Our purpose for existence is not to gain material goods and possessions, but to share life with Christ now and forever.

 

Paul, through the spiritual gift of wisdom came to understand that God desires not the death of the person, but that the person should live forever with him.  Paul came to the realization that there will be a resurrection of the body. The body will be re-united with the spirit either to share with God in glory or to be alienated from God eternally.

“If we look at the most painful moments of our lives, when we have lost a loved one — our parents, a brother, a sister, a spouse, a child, a friend — we realize that even amid the tragedy of loss, even when torn by separation, the conviction arises in the heart that everything cannot be over, that the good given and received has not been pointless. There is a powerful instinct within us which tells us that our lives do not end with death. This thirst for life found its true and reliable answer in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ Resurrection does not only give us the certainty of life after death, it also illumines the very mystery of the death of each one of us.” Pope Francis

Without belief in life after death, life would be hopeless and death feared. But because in faith we believe in the continuation of our life after death in a new experience, then life is not hopeless and death is not the victor to be feared. Our life is more important at each moment, since how we live our life in relationship to God and others will determine our eternal existence. Either our life will be lived in the fullness after death or our life will be nothingness in the eternal darkness away from God. Rather than fear death, which is only a brief moment in the full journey of life, we should seek to live in a way now that will ensure that our life will be fulfilled.

Thirty-second Sunday Gospel Year A

Jesus said: “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

· According to Jewish custom a couple would be betrothed to one another for a year, each living separately. After the period the groom would go to the bride’s house to bring her to his house as his wife. This would be the wedding night. The ten attendants were waiting for him to return with his bride.

Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 

· Matthew uses the contrast between two different groups throughout his gospel: the house build on rock and the house built on sand; the Pharisee and the Publican in prayer. Here it is the contrast between those who are prepared to go into the celebration and those who are not.

The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'  While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!' But he said in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.' 

· We saw in another parable where someone was not prepared to be part of the wedding feast because of the lack of the traditional wedding garment. That person was ejected.

· Here, because they were not vigilant and prepared, they were caught off guard; Due to their own lack of foresight, they are refused entrance.

· After all God has done for you, how will you feel if he said: “I do not know you?”

· Remember it is more dependent on our state of relationship with God in the present moment than on anything in the past.

Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour. “

· If the Kingdom of God is that important to us, how prepared are we to enter when the invitation is given? Since we do not know the day or the hour of God’s final call, are we vigilant or will we be caught off guard?

· What changes do we need to do this week to be ready, vigilant and responsive? 

“Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear; for He that created you has sanctified you, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be Thou, O God, for having created me.” – St. Clare, on her deathbed speaking to herself

When someone has fallen in  love with God there is no fear of death for as St John has said: "Perfect love has cast out fear." Our love will be perfect when we cross that last obstacle in our journey, death. But knowing that God loves me and that I love God in turn, I will have the strength in Christ to embrace death with the hope of seeing the One whom I love. For on the other side of death is not nothingness but love.

 

"It is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God. Death is no phantom, no horrible specter, as presented in pictures. In the catechism it is stated that death is the separation of soul and body, that is all! Well, I am not afraid of a separation which will unite me to the good God forever.”  (St Therese of Lisieux)

Today we remember the many who have gone before us in the sleep of death, those who are in the state of final purgation. Our prayers are to support them as they yearn to experience the fullness of God's glory. In judgment they had a glimpse of God in all his glory. They have died in Christ, but their white garment is still stained. Only the blood of the Lord can make them glistening white once more. As we support them with our prayers, so they in turn will support us, when we go through the same state of final purgation.