Run forth to meet Christ

1^st Sunday of Advent Year A 2019:

Advent is upon us.  This weekend we light the Advent wreathe and we enter into the season of patient waiting for Christ.  We await the celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas.  But, even more, we use this as a time of waiting for Christ when he comes again.  And he will come for each of us.  At the end of time or the end of our lives, whichever comes first, we will experience the Advent of Jesus Christ.  So, this season of Advent is our yearly reminder to prepare for the coming of Christ.

Notice that the first 2 weeks of Advent focus on the coming of Christ on the last day.  In today’s second reading and gospel, we are told to be awake, ready, prepared for Christ’s coming.  The final two Sundays of Advent will focus more on the birth of Christ and the feast of Christmas.  

Jesus gives us this interesting image: awake.  We should be awake and alert for the coming of Christ. Now, this doesn’t mean that we are supposed to stay up all night every night.  We would go crazy.  Rather, our spiritual life should reflective and aware, open to God’s presence in the world and in our lives.  What is the difference between being awake and being asleep?  When we are asleep, we are vulnerable, we are no longer aware, no longer in control.  Even in our dreams, we are unable to control things or participate in a meaningful way.   One of the recurring dreams that I have is one where it’s time for Mass and I can’t find the page in the book.  This is a crazy and stressful dream because I’m unable to control things and I have the feeling of being unprepared.

Well I thought of this dream when Jesus told us to be awake and alert.  When we are awake, we are aware of what’s going on around us, we can act, we can prepare, we can participate in the life we live.  I think this is why Jesus gave us this image in the gospel.  Being “awake” in the faith means being aware of God’s presence.  It means preparing ourselves to meet God.  It means that we become active participants in the work of salvation.  

I really like how the opening prayer for today’s mass puts it: grant you faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming.  This is what it means to be awake and alert.  It means that we are not simply waiting around for Christ to come back.  It means that we are running forth to meet him.  How?  By our righteous deeds.  

Let me recommend 2 righteous deeds.  Do something charitable this Advent.  Maybe it’s the parish giving tree.  Maybe it’s a donation to our St. Vincent De Paul society.  Maybe it’s another charity that you want to support.  We can run forth to meet Christ by giving in charity.  Second, learn something new this Advent.  Don’t be stale in your faith.  Learn something new.  Go to the bookstore and find a good Catholic book.  Maybe it’s on one of the saints, or one of the sacraments.  If you would rather do something online, go to formed.org. Set up an account and commit to working through one of the video series’ online.  Our first reading says: from Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  Take some time this Advent to learn from the Lord.  This too, is a great way to run toward Christ, whom we await during this prayerful season of Advent.

Advent is a time of waiting.  But, not a time of sleeping.  Awake, let us run forth to meet Christ our Lord.

Perseverance

33^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time year C 2019:

As we get close to the end of the liturgical year, we always here these apocalyptic messages in the scriptures.  Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple.  He talks about signs, deceivers, wars, insurrections, nations rising against nation, earthquakes, famines, plagues, awesome and mighty signs, persecution, even being handed over by your family members.  In the midst of all these horrible things, what are we supposed to do?  Do not be deceived, do not be terrified, persevere.  Easier said than done right?  But, so important.  Perseverance is one of the most important virtues to develop as a Christian.  Why?  We will be challenged, we will be persecuted, we will be tempted.  It might seem easy to follow Jesus when things are going well, but what do we do in times of adversity?

As I was reflecting on the list of calamities that Jesus describes in the gospel, I got to thinking: my problems are all way smaller than that.  War, famine, plagues?  Not exactly, too many emails to answer, too many cases to judge in the tribunal, weather turning cold.  And yet, I find persevering in these much smaller things to be difficult enough already.  How would I handle earthquakes and war?  Probably not too well.

But, it’s precisely through the little things in life that prepare us for the big things.  Those smaller moments are what help us to build up perseverance.  If we are hoping to remain faithful in the big moments of life, it starts by being faithful in all the small moments.

I think St. Paul is a great example for us here.  St. Paul had some amazing moments in his life.  Christ spoke to him and called him to be his disciple.  He preached the gospel.  He was persecuted, arrested, he even gave his life as a martyr.  This is why we know about him as a great saint.  He was tremendously valiant in the big moments of life.  Yet, what does he say to the Thessalonians?  When I was with you, I worked night and day in toil and drudgery so that I might not be a burden to you.  His final advice: keep busy and work quietly in the Lord.

St. Paul teaches us amazing courage in the hugely momentous events of his life.  But, he also shows that the way for him to prepare for those huge moments was to work quietly and contentedly for the Lord.  It was the daily toil of working for the Lord that prepared him for the big moments of life.  

This is so true for us too.  If we are going to persevere in the grand moments, we need to work on being faithful in the small moments.  If we want to make an offer of our life to God, then we need to give him the random Tuesdays of life too.  Do not be terrified, do not be deceived, persevere.  Not just in the big moments, but the small moments of life too.

If you are ever struggling with the daily toils of life, I would recommend praying the 4^th sorrowful mystery of the rosary.  The rosary is my favorite personal devotion, and I like the 4^th mystery the best: Jesus carries his cross.  The other sorrowful mysteries talk about momentous events in the Lord’s passion: agony, scourging, crowning, crucifixion.  These are big moments.  Carrying of the cross is the quiet mystery.  It’s the journey between the big moments.  

So, we can look to Christ who carried his cross.  He patiently went one step at a time.  St. Paul patiently worked between his big moments.  The same is a great lesson for us.  We can grow in our perseverance and be ready for the big moments in life if we work quietly in the Lord and carry our crosses daily.

Resurrection

32^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C 2019:

I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting, AMEN.  You and I pray these words every Sunday when we recite the creed.  And how much do we think about these words?  Yet, this teaching is important for two reasons: it gives us hope in the midst of our sufferings and it gives us hope for the faithful departed.  

Our belief in the resurrection begins with Jesus.  He was the first to rise.  We not only believe in the resurrection as some future possibility, we already believe that Jesus is raised and lives forever.  We say that we believe in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting because it is a true reality: Christ is living it right now.  Even more, all those who believe in him will experience the same kind of life: resurrection and life everlasting. 

But, what do we do with this of the Sadducees?  They talk about a woman who lost 7 husbands and who will she be married to in all eternity?  What’s really going on under this question?  First, they reject resurrection.  Second, they think that what they are rejecting is that resurrection is just like this life.

If resurrection and eternal life is just more of this life, then who of us would really want to sign up for that?  I know I wouldn’t.  Every time winter starts to set in, I start to look forward to eternal life where it never gets cold.  This life is full of pain, misery, suffering, and sadness.  If the resurrection is just waking up to more of this kind of living, then count me out.  

But, Jesus says something amazing: they are like angels, they are the children of God.  They will be like angels.  Certainly, that means that something major is going on here.  Jesus is saying that eternal life is completely different from this life that we experience.  This is something new, something more.  We profess each week that we believe in the resurrection of the Body.  And we see that when Jesus was raised from the dead, he still had his body.  But, it was different.  His body did not need food, but he ate anyway.  His body could walk through locked doors.  His body was not recognized on the way to Emmaus.  

So, we believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.  This is not just more of the same kind of life that we have now.  But, what, exactly, will it be like?  Sorry, I can’t really help you there.  Eye has not seen, ear has not heard what God has in store for those who love him.  Jesus tells us that it will be pretty amazing.  But, we will just have to wait for the details.  But, the promise of eternal life should fill us with hope in the midst of our sufferings.  

Also, we commend all our departed brothers and sisters to the grace and power of God’s mercy.  We pray that they are experiencing eternal life even now.   True, the resurrection of the body will take place all at once.  But, the saints and holy ones already share in the eternal life of the kingdom.

So, to summarize, Jesus declares quite boldly that there is a resurrection and eternal life.  This is important for two reasons.  First, this should fill us with hope and joy.  We experience pain and suffering in this life.  But, this life will end and be replaced with a new life that is more amazing than we can possibly imagine.  So, don’t be afraid to look forward to heaven sometimes when life feels tough.  Second, when we mourn the loss of our family and friends.  We know that we hand them over to God’s loving embrace.  We pray that they experience the peace of eternal life even right now at this moment.  

The words: I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting, are words of hope for us and for our loved ones.  So, when we profess our creed each week, may these words fill us with hope in eternal life.  

Come on down...

31^st Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C 2019:

Today’s gospel story is just such a great and inspirational story.  It’s so vivid too.  It’s easy to imagine little Zacchaeus climbing up the tree to see Jesus.  Imagine Jesus looking up there at him.  He probably looks a little bit ridiculous.  And Jesus simply invites him: come down, I’m staying with you today.  Zacchaeus is so moved by Jesus’ invitation that he pledges to give away half his property.  Half!  Talk about an amazing response to Jesus’ simple invitation.

So, this is a beautiful story and an inspirational one.  But, notice that at the end of the gospel Jesus has a brief statement that shows that the story of Zacchaeus has far-reaching implications.  Jesus says: the son of man has come to seek and save what was lost.  In other words, Zacchaeus embraces the call of Christ and becomes his disciple.  But, he is also an image for all of us.  Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost.  This includes the whole human race.  Each one of us should see ourselves in the Zacchaeus story.  Jesus is still inviting us.  How do we respond?

When I was praying over this passage, the words of Jesus really stuck out to me: Zacchaeus come down quickly.  It reminded me of back when I was a kid.  I remember summer vacations.  During the day, I’d turn on the tv.  And there was never anything on (except for maybe soap operas).  I remember it being so boring.  But, one show I would always like to watch was “The Price is Right.”  This was back in the days of Bob Barker right.  You all know the show right.  The contestants are chosen from the crowd.  And what happens when they are chosen?  The announcer says: Jim Smith… come on down, you’re the next contestant on the price is right.  So, what would Jim do?  He’d jump up out of his chair.  He’d start yelling and screaming.  He would sprint to the stage area.  And he’d be the next contestant.  I’m remember dreaming about hearing my name be called: Jake Runyon, come on down…

Isn’t this what happens to Zacchaeus?  Jesus says to him: come on down.  The gospel says: he came down quickly and received him with joy.  He was excited.  He received him with joy.  And in his enthusiasm, he decided to change his whole life: his giving to the poor and paying back people he ripped off.  Now, that’s excitement.

How about you and me?  How do we respond to the invitation of Jesus?  Do we jump up and down with joy and excitement?  Does the invitation of Jesus cause us to be so moved that we change our whole lives?

Maybe so.  Maybe not.  I’ve certainly met people along the way who have had these kinds of dramatic conversion experiences.  They have felt that surge of excitement when Jesus said to them: come on down.  But, I think that for the rest of us it’s not so dramatic or exciting.  But, that does not mean that Jesus is not still calling us.  That doesn’t mean that we should not respond with joy.  

I thought St. Paul’s words were helpful for us today: we always pray for you that our God may make you worthy of his calling.  In other words, we are not done yet.  Yes, Jesus is calling us.  Yes, we should respond with joy.  But, this is a process that takes place over the course of our whole lives.  One great way to enter into this story is to use these words of St. Paul.  Lord, I know you are calling me like you called Zacchaeus, make me worthy of this great call.  Help me to respond to your invitation with great joy.  Maybe we don’t jump around like the contestants on the price is right.  But, we can ask God to help us to respond to his invitation with the same joy that filled Zacchaeus.  Jesus says to each of us: come on down.  How will we respond?