Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100624.cfm
Father O’Reilly walked into a pub in Donegal, and said to the first man he met, "Do you want to go to heaven?" The man said, "I do, Father." Father said, "Then stand over there against the wall." He asked the second man, "Do you want to go to heaven?"
"Certainly, Father," the man's replied. "Then stand over there against the wall," said the priest.
Father O’Reilly walked up to O'Toole and said, "Do you want to go to heaven?"
O'Toole said, "No, I don't Father."
Fr. O’Reilly said, "I don't believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you do not want to go to heaven?"
O'Toole said, "Oh, when I die, yes! I thought you were getting a group together to go right now."
We need to be prepared for God's call for us home at any time and we should prepare each day for that call. In our Responsorial Psalm we sang, “Blessed are you who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.” Fear of the Lord does not mean being afraid, it means not wanting to hurt our relationship with God. In our reading from Hebrews, we heard that God loved us so much the Word [Jesus, the Son of God] became flesh, “for a little while … [Jesus] was made lower than the angels.” Jesus taught that “if we love one another, God remains in us.”
Jesus calls us – to listen to HIS WORD and allow His Word to guide our lives. The author of Genesis reminds us of two things: one. Human beings are social beings, and two. Ideally in a marriage the spouses promote the goodness of each other which enables them to become one. As you are aware Divorce is a major problem in our time.
Today’s divorce rate is about 50%, and I am sure that you are aware of many of the reasons for that rate. Fr. Dennis Murphy OSFS, God rest his soul, said, “I see good in you and I choose to help that good grow for your sake.” [That good put there by God]. We would have far fewer divorces if married couples based their relationships on that principal [God’s grace]. Our society and our culture mock our belief in the sanctity and permanence of the marriage, on marriage as a sacrament.
St. Francis de Sales wrote, “… we are born to love. We are made for relationship. Much of who we are – much more of who we could be – can only become reality through relationships we establish and nurture with others.” [Sunday Salesian 10-04-2010]
Marriage is: Beautiful when a husband and wife love each other, support each other, sacrifice for the other, and help the other be the best person they can be; it is Pain-filled when the relationship is not based on God’s grace.
God gives us an ideal for marriage: “Two become one” – one in heart, one in hope, one in love, one in God …. in a life where Christ is the ever-present … guest, where their life together is a sacrament, that reveals God’s love.” [Connections 10-04-2009]
Each of us single, married, lay, or ordained can pray that we allow God’s grace: to mold us and to guide us! Jesus calls us to search for ways to heal the wounds that fracture and undermine families. [Adopted from Connections 10-06-2024]
I started my homily with a funny story, and I want to end it with one that, also, has an important message. Cardinal Cupich boarded an airplane, and he had difficulty putting his bag in the overhead compartment. After struggling for a few minutes, a man got up from his seat and said, “Father let me help you, took his bag and easily put it in the overhead compartment.” Then he turned and said, “Father, will that get me into heaven?”
The Cardinal responded, “I hope not on this flight.”
I think each one of us wants to go to heaven, but very few of us want to go now. Whether we are single or married we are called to live as a child of God. Reflect on How you are living as God’s child?
May God Be Praised.
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