Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Prayers for my Dad
Friends, my dad will be going in for bypass surgery on Monday the 28th, please remember him in your prayers, his name is Ivan. I will resume reflections on the 2nd week of Advent, God bless you, FJ
Friday, November 4, 2011
Change: The Inevitable
Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day or the hour.” The readings today, especially St. Paul’s 1st letter to the Thessalonians and the Gospel of Matthew speak of the 2nd coming of Jesus. The Second Coming of Christ is a topic that draws much curiosity, speculation, and even debate among Christians who vary in their beliefs regarding some of the particulars. Some sects will even go so far as predicting dates, not just once, twice, but even three times or more. My reflection will not focus on the surface subject matter of the end of the world, as described in today’s readings, but rather our own individual ends. All of us will meet Christ in the face, either for ill or good, and I pray for the good for us all.
Death is not an end, but a change. Recently we celebrated seven funerals in about two weeks. With Fr. Antony being on vacation Fr. Tony and I had more work than usual since we cover Mater Dei and all the sick calls. There were days in which both of us had three or four services covering three sites plus funerals. And yet, the Lord sustained us so that we could be strong for those families that needed the Good Lord’s grace and compassion. Reflecting on those two weeks when so many funerals came through I could not help to think about death.
In a conversation with a good friend we spoke of change in life, sometimes change being very difficult. Things will happen to us in our relationships, physical problems and emotional problems arise, there are hurdles to overcome, we are called from one job to another, etc., all of it demanding change. Think of our merger and the great demand that brought and continues to bring. Nevertheless, part of us must die to what was before otherwise we cannot be ready for what is to come. Most changes are for the good though we cannot see it when going through it. Some want to hold onto the old, thinking - it was better the way it was, not just in parish life but even in my own personal life. Though God is making us ready for what is to come we remain resistant. We do not want to let go of what is comfortable. That is why death is the greatest change, since it demands the greatest and ultimate letting go.
My friend and I shared that all the changes we go through in life are meant for our good both here and in heaven. All the changes we go through have two purposes, one, so that God can put us on the right road, and two, to get us used to change in order to prepare for the final sacrament, death, again the ultimate change. Jesus says, “He will come like a thief in the night, be prepared.” This saying signifies that we do not predict our own death, that being the case like a good steward we must always remain faithful. How can I be prepared in order to live like a good and faithful steward?
One is prepared by submitting to God’s will, to accepting the change that comes before us. Look around you, everything changes, nothing stands motionless. Those who resist change get left behind. Not just in a parish, but at school, work, even within families and friends. You don’t have many of the same friends you had when you were 5 or 10, or 20, or whatever age you are at now. It has all changed. If I cannot accept change now, how will I accept the Lord when he calls me home to that final change, from this life to the next? I pray for us all, that even though change is difficult we must submit to God’s will, it is always for the best, regardless of what I may think. That also takes trust and it is easier to trust a man when he backs up his promises with action. In our case the Lord backed up his promise by spreading his arms on a cross. Change was tough for him as well, but look at the good it brought about, salvation. So too does our change bring about the good, it’s simply a matter of letting go and trusting that the change is not for the ill, but for the good and so that we may be prepared be it our own individual death or the Lord’s actual return in glory. Amen!
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