+ Our readings today are about the matter of life and death! The first reading tells us how
death entered into the world of life that God had made. He made
in this world, man, to be imperishable
(unable to die): the image of his very
own nature. But by the envy of the
devil (an angelic spiritual creation who had already failed a test given by
God) – by his jealousy of God – death
entered the world as the fitting punishment for those who wantonly disobey
God (as he himself, the devil had done).
The object of this story then
is to stay on the side of God’s good
graces, on the side of right living,
on the side of opposing temptation when
it comes at us, and it will come at us! We do this by freely entering into a community of life – among all of our
brothers and sisters who are now a part of his family – and even with those who
are not yet members – to whom we constantly demonstrate our faith by actions of
love (so to make membership attractive and desirable): we demonstrate our
wiliness to help, by helping (not
making ourselves poor) but by giving from
a true abundance that we might have, so that the idea of “more and less” is
foreign to us as Christians; the idea of having
what we need, and helping others who
have need currently is what life in communion / the Church is all about!
There are a thousand ways in which we can help, beginning with prayer for
others, but then our prayer must always be followed by some kind of tangible kindness
towards them.
Jesus in the gospel passage
went to help Jarius’ daughter because he had something that he could do for her
– and he did it: Jesus had/has power over life and death, and so by simply calling
her name and telling the little girl to get up: she did! And she began to walk
around. When we help others because Christ Jesus has mandated us to do it, and
out of love for him, some pretty amazing things can happen too. For in a sense
we too have power (Jesus’ power in us)
to encourage people to live healthier
and happier lives, spiritual lives; we too have power (Jesus’ power in us) to heal
those who have been wounded by the unkind mentally and spiritually and even
physically aggressive blows, remarks and experiences that this cruel world can
dole out – by simply listening, and encouraging them to believe that the Power of the Cross is also the Power of the
Resurrection: and that it is for them, and that things can truly get better
– with a little work, and a lot of being willing to have stronger faith in God!
On this Fourth of July weekend
– as we approach the 242 anniversary of the founding of our nation: and the
birth of Lady Liberty, as we began our
destiny of being a beacon of freedom, right opportunity, and fair
treatment of all who come to our shores – it is a tragic commentary on our
recent history of a government that now has run so far amuck that the Light in
the Tower of Lady Liberty has been reduced to the tiniest flicker, and as the
door to immigration has been all but slammed shut, and the unfair treatment of
many of our great allies in the past has turned bullyish, and as the shining
light of fair media and journalistic reporting has been attacked mercilessly –
our country is in grave danger of losing everything we have gained – especially
by the way the current administration regards babies, toddlers and children,
removing them from their parents who are trying to enter our country legally or
illegally because what they left behind in their country is far much worse that
a misdemeanor charge –
yes, Lady Liberty is weeping
in New York Harbor – and unless we allow our consciences to be moved by the
grace of our baptisms, confirmations, ordinations and religious professions to
do something about it – there just might not be a 243rd birthday of the
great USofA.
Let us not fail in our
Christian duty to be heralds of life, not death; and shiners of the light of
Christ into all the dark corners of the world, and on those who come from all
corners of the earth to our shores – so that the truth can be known everywhere and
the freedom of the children of God can become a reality for all!
We
will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued us!
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