I
always found it curious that we would end a Church year like we did a week ago,
with readings about the end times, about the final judgment, about the
fulfillment of the Kingdom. And then, a
week later, begin a new Church year with readings about the end times, final
judgment and fulfillment of the Kingdom.
Why is that, huh?
I
think the meaning behind these readings can be found summed up in one of those Seven
Habits of Highly Effective People that Steven Covey writes about – “begin with
the end in mind.” Begin with the end in
mind. The gist is – if you don’t know
where you’re trying to get to, it doesn’t matter much which road you take. But if you start with a firm goal, then how
you get there makes all the difference.
So I think the Church is teaching us to begin again, begin with a firm
goal in mind.
And
we who gather this evening/morning do share a common goal, do we not? Eternal life, eternal communion with our God,
Father Son and Holy Spirit.
But
how often do we think about that? How
often as we live the day-to-day busy-ness of our lives, do we take the time to
stop and think about where we’re going, where we’re trying to get. And are we on the right road to get
there?
This
new season of Advent - this new Church year - provide us a time to stop and
think, and examine our lives. Ironic,
huh? That this time of year that this world has made more and more hectic,
preparing for the “holidays” – is supposed to be a time of retreat, reflection,
self-examination.
And
but don’t dally - do it now. All these readings seem to say - don’t delay! There’s an urgency to these readings, huh? We recognize that our salvation is nearer
than when we first believed, nearer than last advent, nearer even than our last
breath. So we’d better get on with it.
Why?
Because Jesus, the “Son of Man, is coming.”
On Christmas morn. At the end of
our lives. At the end of time. And this season gives us a time to reflect on
Jesus’ coming in all three ways, but especially at the end of our lives. The Gospel speaks to this.
Let’s
take a moment and put ourselves into this Gospel. Two men out in the field – one taken, one
left. Two women grinding at the mill –
one taken one left.
Imagine
- what if you or I were there in the field, or grinding at the wheel? Working away, here before you stands Jesus the
Son of God Himself. The “coming of the
Son of Man.” For your judgment – such
that one is taken and one left. To judge
my life. What have I done? What have I failed to do? Have I been faithful to Him?
Just
this week, the Holy Father Pope Francis spoke of this – that we must take stock
of our lives in preparation for that judgment – “We’d do well to think,” he
said, ‘…what will the day be like when I will be in front of Jesus? When He
asks me about the talents that he gave me, what use I made of them, when He
will ask me: how was my heart when the seed was dropped, like a path or like
thorns: that Parable of the Kingdom of God. How did I receive His Word? With an
open heart? Did I make it germinate for the good of all or in secret?”
Now,
imagine again, Jesus standing before you.
What if, at that moment, rather than stand in judgment, He points
straight at you and says “you decide?” Tells
you to judge, presents you at that moment a stark choice – Him or not Him? On one hand a smiling Jesus, arms outstretched,
open wide, beckoning me to embrace Him.
On the other hand an eternity entirely devoid of His love. Pretty easy choice, huh?
Now
what if, at that moment, the choices completely morph. On one had you’re presented with all the
glamour, the glitter, the good feelings, the undeniable attraction of sin. Those deeds of darkness which the evil one
puts in front of you, to tempt you. Those
deeds of which St. Paul wrote in our second reading.
And
on the other hand you’re presented with a life of faithful discipline, of
resolve strengthened by frequent visits to the confessional and Eucharist. A life of clinging to the crucified
Lord. Now perhaps the choice is not so
easy, as one looks so tempting, so gratifying.
The other looks - so hard.
Now
what if, on one hand you’re presented with a life of comfort and ease, of
riches and pleasure and amusement. And
on the other hand Jesus morphs. He
becomes a homeless woman. An immigrant
child. An elderly person lonely and
dying. An unwed mother, an unborn baby. Each with arms outstretched, open wide,
beckoning for our help. And the judgment
is again ours, yours and mine, to make.
You
see, I’m not sure that the end times will be any different than our daily
lives, that the judgments we make day in and day out aren’t the exact same as
those we’ll be called to make when standing before the Lord. That the final judgment won’t be a replay of
all the many little judgments we make along the way. Do we choose Jesus, or not Jesus?
Sisters
and brothers, I think the message for each of us today, as we begin this new
Church year and enter into this holy season of preparation is to ready
ourselves - prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the Son of Man is coming. Prepare for that day of our judgment.
For
what time is it? It’s the time to wake
from our slumber. To arise, to change
our lives, our priorities, change the path we’re on if the path we’re on isn’t
leading us to the only goal that matters – that is - eternal life, eternal joy,
eternal communion with God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
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