Category: Uncategorized

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Gospel: Luke 21: 29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, 
but my words will not pass away.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Over the last week, we’ve heard a lot of scary sayings from Jesus in the Gospels about the end of the world; there will be earthquakes, famines, wars, and insurrections. 

Christians will be led before courts and kings, but they’re not to prepare a defense beforehand. Parents will hand over children and brother will hand over sister.

It can be exhausting to think about this, which is why it’s important to remember the bigger picture.

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When considering the end of the world – and the chaos that will usher it in – think about it like a thunderstorm at night. 

We’ve all been through a storm before. The lightning cracks while the rain pounds against our windows.

Once the storm passes, there’s a unique type of peace – or calm – that follows. As the sun rises, you can hear the birds chirp; the air smells fresh and feels crisp against our skin; there’s a stillness; everything else is quiet.

That’s the type of peace that God’s kingdom is bringing.

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Once good has conquered evil forever, there will be a definitive peace which no storm can quench, no spear can break, no army can conquer.

As the prophet Isaiah foretells, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not train for war against another, nor shall they train for war again.”

But, as the storm rages, we must remain vigilant – staying close to the Lord even in times of trial – for he has loved us, given himself for us, and has been raised from the dead. In time, he will come for us, too.

Come, Lord Jesus.

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Image credits: (1) DailyVerses.net (2) Dailey Lake, TripAdvisor (3) YouTube, World Christian Fellowship

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Gospel: Luke 17: 11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed. 
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. 
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine? 
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” 
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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When the first pilgrims landed on the shores of America in November, 1620, they cried out in gratitude. One pilgrim noted, “We fell upon our knees and blessed the God of heaven.”

They had just endured a harrowing two-month journey across the Atlantic. Some died on the open seas. Half of the remaining population died of tuberculosis and pneumonia that first winter. Then spring arrived and their condition started to improve.

This was the backdrop for the first Thanksgiving. 

Trial and error. Success and failure. Famine, and at that first Thanksgiving, feast.

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Today, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving by filling their tables with plenty, gathering with family and friends, and serving those who, like the first pilgrims in the winter of 1620, still go without.

Gratitude is the reason for the season.

But as Christians, we are invited to be grateful, not only in times of prosperity, but also in times of trial. As Saint Paul says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God.”

We give thanks for our nation. We give thanks for our faith, our family, our friends, and this parish. But what about in times of trial?

This is a deeper dimension of gratitude – being thankful for God’s presence in all things, at all times.

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It’s natural for human beings to try to make sense of their environment, even to control it. But faith adds a mysterious fourth dimension. Often enough, we don’t understand why things happen to us. 

Think about how those pilgrims felt that first winter. Why was it so cold? Why was the land so barren? 

Or think about how people might feel in our world today. Imagine sitting in a doctor’s office questioning, “Why me?”  

Having faith doesn’t mean life always makes sense in the present moment. It’s believing that God is present in all things. 

What are a few things I can easily be grateful for? Is there any aspect of my life where I struggle to be grateful, or to find God?

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“We fell to our knees and blessed the God of heaven,” one of the first pilgrims to arrive in America recounted. Little did they know how harsh that first winter would be.

But when the spring rains came, everyone gave thanks.

So, it is in the Christian life – no trial is forever. God alone remains. The spring rains will come. For that we give thanks.

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Image credits: (1) LA Today (2) Fine Art America (3) LinkedIn

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Gospel: Luke 21: 12-19

Jesus said to the crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Have you seen the Harry Potter movies or read the books?

Harry Potter is the story of an 11-year-old orphan who discovers that he’s a wizard. His mission is to destroy the warlock, Lord Voldemort. 

Like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and other Hollywood films, Harry Potter is a story about the struggle between good and evil, making it arrestingly human.

As Sirius Black, Harry’s godfather, notes, “We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.”

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“What matters is the part we choose to act on.”

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In the Gospel, Jesus describes the end of the world, which will involve war, division, disease, and famine. Parents hand over children, disciples are forced to testify on his behalf, and so on.

Things that happen because people are forced to take sides, acting on either the light or the darkness within.

It’s a heavy scene to contemplate. But perhaps it’s more digestible by thinking about little ways follow the light – the Holy Spirit – within.

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When someone angers us and we forgive them, we follow the light. 

When we put our gifts at the service of others, we follow the light. 

When we speak kindly about others, we follow the light.

When we testify to our faith, even at great cost, we follow the light.

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I won’t give away the specifics of how Harry Potter ends, but I will say this – good always wins in the end. It’s true in Hollywood films – and it’s true in the Gospels. 

May Christ be our light, shining in our hearts today.

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Image credits: (1) (2) Pinterest (3) LoveThisPic