+ Our readings today are very informative and even consoling. As we
wind our way through the passageways of the labyrinth called “human life” – the
first reading today can be a beacon of hope for us, as we oft times wonder
“what it is all about” – what is this human life – what is it about – what is
its goal – where are we going, really?
And so St. Paul tells the
Romans – who are not unintelligent people, not as intelligent maybe as the
Greeks, but with much grasp of reality in its proper sense – “the second coming
of the Lord, at the trumpet of God – a very clear, commanding and audible SOUND
OF MUSIC – will be a very interesting event: for all of humanity, which has
ever lived – billions of human persons will be gathered up into the clouds of
earth – and there ‘meet the Lord Jesus face to face’ – and he will sort out the
real winners and losers –
-
the winners who will spend eternity with
him will
be the ones who believe he is real, his human life was transformative for any
who believe it, and that an eternity of bliss awaits them as their reward for
belief, and good works done for others, because of the belief.
-
the losers will be those not spending
eternity with the Lord, they
will reside in a condition that reflects their lack of belief in the God who spoke
countless times of himself to them, in their lifetimes, but who were just plain
too self-absorbed, or just plain dumb and numb to take the “golden ring” when
it was handed them on a silver platter! “Yes, it is true, you can lead a horse
to water, but you can’t make him drink!”
Our primary task this day, is
to be among the active, believing family of brothers and sisters, who know they
have been rescued from a very lonely, and cold eternity. Our duty is simply to
be a trusting child of an amazing Father, with a King for a brother, and so
many who have gone before us, who can encourage us by their inspirations and
memories.
The gospel passage is quite
comical really: Jesus walks into his “home synagogue” – opens to the Scriptures
which talks about what the very Messiah of God – who they have been waiting for
many years and centuries – will do when he gets there. He rolls up the scroll
and says basically: well, dear people, it’s me! I am the Messiah! I can do all
kinds of things for you – with one caveat – you simply have to believe what I
have just told you – that I am He, I am the one who comes in the name of the
Lord.
Then knowing his audience, he
told the story about how difficult it would be for them to “come to believe” –
for it is only the lowly, the humble and the childlike – like those who were
healed in the story he told them, that were outside the Jewish family.
Then after praising him and
saying “ahhh” “so you are He who is to come” – you are Joseph’s son – wow! they
turn on him and want to throw him off a cliff for striking their consciences to
the core. But Jesus eluded them – for the time being.
When the Lord strikes our
consciences to the core – as a way of guiding and leading us through the
dangerous peaks, valleys, woods and plains of life – we must learn to simply
let him, and then thank him when he sends consolations and rewards after “the
test” he lets us experience.
Human life is much to
precarious to venture it alone – without the very help of its creator and
designer.
Let’s totally submit to his wisdom, authority and love – and we shall be sorted into the “right hand group” – on Judgment Day – and it will all have been worth it!
Amen!
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