ENDLESS TOMORROWS?

11.28.21 GOSPEL    LK: 21:25-28, 34-36

Strangely enough, after reading this week’s Gospel I was drawn to Diana Warwick’s sensational, song from the 1966 romance called “What’s it all About Alfie?”  The lyrics call for the listener to contemplate the real meaning of life and love.  Warwick’s song made me pause to think about my time and how I treat those on my journey.

This is obviously one of those “boot shaking” readings.  Before His return, Jesus describes to His disciples certain, unavoidable signs that will shake up humankind.  These signs will be manifested in the sun, the moon, the stars and on earth.  It is difficult to read this and not experience some level of discomfort.

There will be signs. My simple mind (by default) asks, “What are today’s signs that we are overlooking today that may tie into this warning?”  We are certainly witnessing unprecedented and distressing signs in the dramatic changes in the environment.  Our precious earth seems to be crying out in anguish from the pain we inflict upon her.  American Natives believe it is everyone’s duty to care for “Unci Maka” or Mother Earth.  Too many have refused to do so and live their brief existence as if there will be endless tomorrows.  Sounds much like the adolescent who lives as if tomorrow will never come.

Much like the physical road signs in our communities that warn us to slow down, to stop and to yield to traffic, God is speaking to us in sacred scripture by asking us to do the same. To stop, to slow down and to yield.  Are you not concerned also with the signs of political dissention leading to violence and death, rampant abortion, pedophilia in our church, racist hate groups, censorship of historical fact, distortion & suppression of truth, gun violence, child-sex trafficking, and drug overdoses? And there are certainly more signs to come.

Dear reader, “Can one really argue that evil is no longer hiding itself in the shadows?” Look around and see the attitudes of those who behave as if there will never be an end to tomorrow.  Prophecy has unveiled herself on many occasions, but we fail to believe there are messages in these forecasts.  I suggest we pray from our hearts. To drop to our knees collectively and to beg for redemption.  We cannot continue to lull ourselves into the trap of believing that it is somebody’s else problem, that the Holy Gospel is simply a fictional portrayal to rouse the senses or for that matter that there will be endless tomorrows to care for Unci Maka and our fellow citizens.  Pax.

The Pilgrim.

My kingdom does not belong to this world

 This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The whole Church - that is to say the Pilgrim Church here on Earth, the Suffering Church and the Glorified Church acknowledge and celebrate Jesus as our true and rightful King. 

It's interesting to note however, that Jesus says to Pilot that His kingdom does not belong to this world. The reverse, of course is true: this world (indeed the whole Universe and all of creation) belongs to our Lord and is subject to His dominion. But Jesus choses an interesting way to phrase what He wants to say; "My kingdom does not belong to this world." Clearly, in this Gospel passage as well as elsewhere throughout scripture, lines have been drawn. It is good for us to consider those lines, and where we chose to place ourselves in relation to them.

Do you belong to this world, or are you a pilgrim - just passing through?  

+ Theophilus

The Good News That Things Are The Same

 

So many seem to be saying these days that things just don’t seem the same.  And it is true, in the relative blink of an eye, things are so much different than they were just a year and a half ago.  While we all had our differences in the past, it seemed we were at least on the surface willing to allow those differences to be respected.  The very institutions of our culture seem to be shaken.  This goes beyond political differences, which is better reserved for another forum, but it even seems that our everyday civility is not what it was not too long ago.  I don’t know about you, but every time I am at a red light, it seems the person behind me is ready to blare their horn at me the very instant the light changes to green.  There is an increasing impatience at the grocery store.  No one seems to want to wait.  There are many reasons for this, all of them too lengthy to discuss in the reflection, but all of it seems to have left us with a feeling of being shaken.  The things we relied on, the things we have taken as a norm, all seem turned upside down.  And so we feel, not just a longing for what once was, but an angst about what it yes to come.  Some will even point to the Scripture as affirmation of this impending doom.

So where is the good news in this?  Well, the good news is that we have been at the point already and through the work of our savior, victory was and is ours.  The evil, in the form of discord and suffering has already been defeated.  And while yes, we need to be aware of the evil and do what we can to avoid it and turn from it, there is no reason to think that evil will have the final word. 

For it was sin and death that reared its ugly head two thousand years ago, culminating at Calvary, but Calvary was not the end.  Think for a moment of those who encountered Jesus some two thousand years ago.  Some had put their very lives into his mission.  Many did not.  Many ignored him. Many even opposed him, putting him on the cross.  So for those who believed in him, seeing him arrested, tortured, and crucified must have been life-shaking.  Their worlds were indeed turned upside down.  They must have felt despair.  They must have lost all hope.  Of course though, Calvary was not the end.    Good Friday was not the end of the story. Jesus would defeat sin and death.  He would defeat evil, the very evil that is rearing its ugly head once again, and has done so for many times over the centuries.  In a sense, things are actually very much the same, but Jesus has won for us victory over it all,  No matter what we experience in the here and now is nothing compared to the glory of what is to come.

Peace,

The Servant

 

 

THE GENEROUS WIDOW

32d Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 12: 38 - 44

 

          If you’re a fan of SNL you might remember the early days when the character, Fr. Guido Sarducci, would often make an appearance.  In one skit he announced that he had been promoted to Monsignor.

 

          “Well, I’m-a very happy to announce that-a next time you see me, I’m-a gonna be monsignor.  That’s right. I was-a promoted. Thank-a you, yes, thank-a you.”  Then, pointing to his sleeve he said, “When you’re monsignor, you get to have a nice-a red stripe, and they say that-a nothing brings out the good veal in Italian restaurants than that-a red stripe, you know. “

 

          And there is a humorous look at clericalism.  Jesus is much more serious, of course, in his treatment of clericalism, when he chastises the ostentatious scribes.  But such self-centered egotism doesn’t just reside with the clergy, as Jesus reminds us,  when he sat down and observed the rich people put large sums of money in the synagogue’s treasury. 

 

          Jesus makes us stop and think.  Do we act his way sometimes?  Do we like the recognition of being a big contributor to the church.  Do we think it entitles us to certain privileges?  Do we think, sometimes, that we’re better than others because we give more money, give more time, give more attention?

 

          The generosity of the humble widow doesn’t earn her that recognition, that privilege, does it?  Yet, she still gives. She gives from her need.  She gives from her heart, not her ego.  She simply  does the right thing.  As Cicero one said, “Virtue is its own reward.”

 

 

“Call Me Ishmael”