Homily Cycle C 11/17/19

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111719.cfm

Patrick O’Reilly was in Flanagan’s Pub, when Fr. Fitzpatrick walked in and announced that anyone who wanted to go to heaven should go over to the wall.  Everyone got up and went to the wall except O’Reilly who continued to sit at the bar.  Fr. Fitzpatrick said O’Reilly don’t you want to go to heaven, why yes, I do Father, I thought you were getting a group together to go now!

From 1996 through 2000 there was a TV program called, “Early Edition”, Kyle Chandler played Gary Holeson, a man who received the next day’s newspaper a day early.

Imagine if you had tomorrow’s news today!  The show depicted what he did with the information.  What would you do with that kind of information?  Would you use it to build up the Kingdom of God, or for some other purpose?

Today’s readings are similar to that TV plot.  The prophet Malachi almost 500  before Christ announces “… the day is coming …”, the day when we will be judged & the Kingdom of God will be realized.  The Jews in Malachi’s time were lax in keeping their religious duties, in keeping the commandments.

Maybe this story about an atheist, a priest and a rabbi can help us.

“An atheist was driving in the country when he came upon a priest & a rabbi standing on the shoulder of the road, fishing.  Next to them was a big sign that read “Turn around.  The end is near.”

The atheist took offense at the sign, rolled down his window & shouted: ‘Don’t preach to me, you religious nuts!’  A few seconds later the priest and the rabbi heard tires screech, and then a splash.  The rabbi turned to the priest and said, ‘I told you we should’ve just written. Bride Out Ahead.’”

[Guiding Light, Homilies by Fr. Joe Robinson, p.173]

St. Paul reminded the people that their relatives and friends who have died will be part of the final resurrection; AND that they should not be concerned or worry about when that will occur, rather they should get busy living the Christian life they were called to live, so when there time comes to go to the land of the living or the end of the world happens they are prepared.

“In ancient China, the people wanted security against the barbaric hordes to the north, so they built the Great Wall….  They believed no one could climb over the wall [or] break it down.  They settled back to enjoy their security.  During the 1^st hundred years of the wall’s existence, China was invaded three times.  Not once did the barbarians break the wall down or climb over it.  Each time, they simply bribed the gatekeeper and then marched right through the gates.  The moral … they forgot to teach integrity to their children.” 

In our country we have a similar problem teaching our children virtue to live by.  Richard Rich in Robert Bolt’s play, A Man for All Seasons said to St. Thomas More about being a teacher, “And if I were, who would know it?”

More responds, “Yourself, your friends, your pupils, God; pretty good public, that!”  The “… only audience worth playing for in the end is divine audience, the only drama worth acting in – even in the smallest role – is God’s.   

[The Word in and out of Season, p.266-67]

In today’s Gospel people ask Jesus, “Teacher, when will this happen?”

Jesus answered them and teaches us to do our part, preserve and live as a disciple of Jesus each day and we will “secure our lives.” 

Jesus reminds us not to get attached to the things of this world, experience them as a gift. He tells us to live life as a gift!  “This stripping away of possessions, status, and relationships happens to everyone as they die — and will one day happen to each one of us  It is not our portfolios and resumes that matter in the end, but the simple good we do that transforms lives that is our true and lasting legacy.

May God grant us the wisdom to realize what a great and lasting world we can build if we … embrace God’s grace to build… [it].”  [Connections, 11/17/19]

May God Be Praised!