2nd Sunday after Easter 26 April 2009 Sermon

2nd Sunday after Easter 26.4.09 Perseverance

He has died for us, risen from the dead, set everything in place for us, but we are not in heaven yet, are we? There is still a chance to be lost. We might ‘snatch defeat from the jaws of victory’.
So we have to stay close to the Good Shepherd. He takes that role as well, to guide us through all the winding bits before we can finally rejoice without end.

Why do we need guidance? Well, there is still so much evil about, and so much suffering that we need to pick our way very carefully through the various alternatives that we face. The devil may be defeated but he can still be dangerous, like a wounded beast still able to bite or sting. We can be tempted to evil and we can be tempted to despair, either of which could derail us.

We have to ‘maintain’ our salvation. Salvation can be lost – an important point to remember. And also salvation can be built upon. We can store up more graces. We can multiply our own reward in heaven as well as do more good on earth. These things the Lord wants us to understand. There is a depth to the process that involves our cooperation.

It is actually in our favour that we have to live out this time on earth. We might prefer to go to heaven straight off, but doing it this way, the long way round, must be for a good reason.
God lets us endure these terrible temptations. It has never been harder.

But He puts Himself before us as the Good Shepherd. He says, I am here for you. Stay close to Me and you will have more chances to grow in love of God, and I will make sure you get to heaven.

So we hear the voice of the Shepherd beckoning us closer. We are here now to listen to His voice, to be encouraged by Him. We take the chance to renew our commitment to be faithful to Him until the end. Until He calls us from this life, or He returns in glory, we will serve Him every single day.

This takes perseverance, which in turn requires persistent, consistent prayer, sacraments; every day a new struggle or challenge. We do not rest on our laurels, never think we have done enough. Never say, I’ve been a Catholic all my life...so I should be OK.

We do not minimise or trivialise our obligations, but are prepared to do whatever is required to thread our way all these difficult things.

We can get stronger and better at these things. It is not always difficult. We can pick up new strengths and this is what He wants.

Also we can do good by being here, and this also He wants. We can build up His Church, win more lost sheep.

Without ever being overconfident, we press on, and discover there is a joy in our religious life. It is not a burden to pray, go to Mass etc. It becomes a joy as we discover the closeness of God.

This is the way He wants us to develop. He gives us wisdom to understand, motivation to continue.

Easy to be lost? In Australia 88% of Catholics do not even get to Sunday Mass every week, the most minimal obligation. See what happens if we let things slide.

Christ has risen, yet who knows it? It is so easy to lose what we have. How could the Church ever have looked back after that start? Complacency and a host of other factors have led us into trouble. There are so many tricks and traps around.

We will not fall for them. We will cling to the Shepherd and let Him form us.