I want to show you something. (Long piece of rope, with
about 12 inches colored in red at one end). Picture this rope going on for
thousands of miles, several times around the earth and on to infinity. This is
our existence, from the time we were conceived, to all eternity. See this short
piece here (pointing to the 12 inches in red)? That is our time on earth.
When you see it visually, it makes you think. We are
conceived here (pointing to the beginning of the colored section), we have our
childhood here, hopefully our education from here to here and then some kind of
career for the longest part (of the red part). Then we retire and when our time
on earth is complete, we go on to the eternal life we were created for. That is
what we have been created for and to make sure we could get from here to here
(red part to the rest), the death and resurrection of Christ took place.
Think for a moment of how much time and energy we put into
trying to get everything right here on earth. We want the best education, so
that we can have a good career, raise a family, provide for our children and
make sure they are as well prepared as possible… for this short piece here (red
part).
How much time do we put into preparing for the rest of it?
How much time do we spend preparing our children for the rest of it? Think of
how much time we put into looking after our physical body. When we die it will
disintegrate. Our soul is what will continue for all eternity. How much time do
we prepare our soul for what is to come, to make sure it will continue to
happiness and not darkness? What tends to happen right now, is that all the
energy is put into getting everything right and comfortable just for our time
on earth, but the decisions we make here, have consequences for all eternity,
whether we like it or not. Our soul is immortal and will continue on after it
leaves our body, but where it goes depends on what we choose.
Many people won’t even make it this length (the red part),
but will jump unexpectedly to here (beginning of the white part representing eternity), because of
sickness, accidents and natural disasters, but sadly we talk about it as our
life being ‘over’. So many times at funerals I hear people talking about the
deceased as if that is it, there is nothing more. ‘Their memory lives on.’ So
many people have lost a sense of eternity, of the world to come, of the
existence of God. 2.4 million people die every year in the US alone. It’s just
part of the cycle. Their soul goes somewhere. The biggest mistake we can make
is to get so distracted by our life on earth that we forget about what comes
after, thinking that this (red part) is everything and at this time, many
people are focused only on this earth. They have lost sight of the bigger
picture.
The decisions we make during our life on earth have eternal
consequences. How we live on earth is so important. If our life on earth works
out well and we manage to have a good career and a happy retirement, it is a
blessing. But even if our life on earth is disappointing, or even a failure in
our own eyes, or in the world’s eyes, all that really matters is how we lived,
because that is what will determine the rest of our existence. Is there even
such a thing as a failure? Does it not just mean that it didn’t go the way we
expected?
In the prophet Isaiah God says that He is guiding and
helping us, even when we don’t realize it. ‘Thus says the Lord to his anointed
Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp… opening doors before him… I have called you by
your name, though you knew me not.’ (Is 45:1, 4-6)
I remember talking to an elderly man in hospital, who was
near the end of his life. He admitted that he wasn’t very religious, but as he
told me about his life, it became so obvious how God had guided him, even
though at the time he may not have seen it. I think most of us can see the hand
of God in our life when we look back. At the time it is not usually so obvious.
The truth is that God is guiding us all the time and this makes perfect sense
if we are his children. What parent would not try to guide their children?
Just because people haven’t come to know God doesn’t mean
that God is not guiding them. Who would not guide their own children and this
is exactly what this reading says.
Some will say that we are naïve to believe in God. I say
that it is naïve not to believe in God. The Lord continually gives us so
many signs and miracles to help us believe. We can choose to ignore them,
or pay attention. There is indisputable evidence of hundreds of miracles around
us, from the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, to Eucharistic miracles, the
Shroud of Turin and miraculous healings that have taken place with prayer, all
of which have been scientifically studied, with no explanation. The Lord is
constantly reminding us of his presence, so that we don’t get too distracted by
this world and forget what is coming. Our soul is going to live on no matter
what, but where it goes depends on what we choose.
Since I came to this parish in 2016 I have buried 179 people
and that’s just through the normal course of events. Think of all the people
who die in traffic accidents each day. None of them were expecting it. One
minute they are going about their business, going to work, or shopping. The
next minute they are in God’s presence for their judgement. Are you ready for
that?
Jesus used many parables and stories reminding us to be
ready, because ‘You do not know the day nor the hour.’ The temptation is to say
we’ll figure it out when we die. But Jesus continually taught that it is then
too late. What we have chosen on earth, is what we be given when we die. If we
have chosen God by the way we live, then we will be with God for eternity,
which is what God created us for. If we have rejected God by the way we live,
then we will be separated from God for all eternity. God will respect the
choice that we make, but Jesus warns us again and again, not to leave it to the
last moment.
Remember the parable of the ten bridesmaids waiting for the groom to arrive at night, which was part of a wedding tradition. They would be waiting for the bridegroom, without knowing when he would arrive. It says that five were wise
and five were foolish. The five who were wise brought extra oil to last as long
as was needed. The five foolish ones did not. They presumed they could figure
it out at the last minute. When the bridegroom turned up in the middle of the
night the foolish ones were out of oil. They were not prepared. They asked the
wise ones to help them, but they said ‘No, there may not be enough for you and
for us.’ Then it says that while the foolish ones went off to get oil, the
bridal party went in to the feast and the door was shut. When the foolish ones
returned, they asked to be let in, but they were turned away. It was too late and
they got left behind.
Jesus is saying that those who decide to get ready to meet
God at the last minute, will find that it is too late. We must not be
presumptuous. The bridesmaids presumed that God would welcome them either way.
But Jesus says that is not how it works and He finishes by saying, ‘Therefore
keep watch, for you do not know the day nor the hour.’ (Mat 25:1-13)
Jesus used many similar stories and parables, teaching the
exact same thing: ‘So stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.’
Think of the rope. How much time do you give to preparing
for eternity. Is this world my only focus?
'The virgins who were ready went in with the bridegroom to the wedding banquet and the door was shut... Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day nor the hour.'
No comments:
Post a Comment