Redwood Journal

Homily 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time ~ 10 November 2019 (Cyber-version)

Readings:  II Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14; Psalm17;  II Thessalonians 2:16-3-5; Luke 20:27-38

Unhindered Journey

The Christian year is rapidly coming to a close.  In 3 weeks our new year will begin with the First Sunday of Advent.  Time, as we know it, seems to move ever faster while some of us seem to move ever slower.  In this season of change we are reminded that we are on a journey, the journey of life, of faith.  For whether one has a growing faith in God or a faith in self or things we all believe in something…in somebody.  As we allow the light of God’s Word to shine in our lives today we can see this journey that we share and that it is God’s desire, in love, for us to make our journey unhindered.  For God “…that unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours (God’s).”[Collect Mass 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time]   We realize of course that this journey of life is not always easy or without danger but that we are created and redeemed to  make our pilgrimage through…

✠  WORLDLY PERILS:   The example shared in our first reading from 2 Maccabees affirms that in this world we will face great worldly perils.  Even if we are protected from the intense persecution described in this reading we must recognize that Satan, that evil exist and would battle against the souls, so precious to God, that seek to grow on in His will.  Persecution, worldly power and things, sensual lusts would all be used to rob us of the holy beauty and love for which we are created and for which Christ endured the cross to embrace us in saving love.  But even beyond worldly perils we also will face…

✠   TEMPORAL PLACES:  In the steps we take and the places we go, this side of eternity, we will journey through many temporal places.  Some will be very beautiful, good and holy given to us by our loving Lord to help and sustain us in our journey.  There will be the still waters and green pastures of which the familiar Psalm describes, where we are refreshed and our souls are renewed.  It is in many of the temporal places we may come to windows to eternity where we may glimpse the glory of God or hear the exquisite  melodies of saints and angels joining us in worship.  It may be in the rich simplicity of a walk in the woods or sitting quiet in a still morning we grow in the power of God’s peace.  But the Gospel describes the faithless confusion of the Sadducee’s as they tried to entrap Jesus in their crippled understanding of the temporal place of marriage.  And in that dialogue Jesus reminds us that what is given and designed for us here and now may not be the same as what He has prepared for us in heaven. As we seek to journey, unhindered to God we must allow the Holy Spirit to give us discernment for that which truly matters.  Someone once shared the 5/5 Rule:  “If it’s not going to matter in 5 years, don’t spend more than 5 minutes upset by it”.  This rule gives us insight to realize our…

✠  ETERNAL PURPOSE: As we journey through Worldly Perils and Temporal Places we are called to remember and realize we are created and redeemed for Eternity.  And this realization brings us to embrace the grace that will enable God to free us to make our journey to Him in ever-growing freedom, as we prayed in our Collect. For this journey, if it is to be unhindered must be alive in the Spirit of Metanoia..of conversion.  Those graces of changing one’s mind, heart, self or way of life, in the mercy and grace of God, to grow in spiritual conversion..to grow unhindered in our journey into eternity. 

✠   St. Therese of Lisieux once said:  “ Jesus does not consider time, since He is eternal.  He considers only love”.   May we each, may we together, grow, unhindered, for God in the holy love that is Jesus our Lord.  “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.”