Last Sunday after Pentecost 22 Nov 2020 Sermon

 

Last Sunday after Pentecost 22.11.20 Ready

The word ‘last’ puts us in mind of the end of things, the end of life, the end of history, end of the world as we know it.

Every year we come around to this point. Another year gone. Another reminder of the shortness of things – things we might see as more permanent than they really are.

The liturgy at this time reminds us of higher considerations than just what this life can offer.

Our thoughts and aspirations are directed heavenwards. We are exhorted to be ready - in two senses.

One, that all we have, the world around us, even our own lives, could disappear very suddenly.

We need to be ready every day of our lives to part with this earthly life. Like the wise virgins of the parable (Mt 25,1-13) or the servants who are at their work when the Master returns (Mt 24,46). We will not be caught off guard.

At another level we are encouraged to a state of readiness which can increase as we enter more fully the world that God puts before us. We discover how desirable God is, and how much better the Kingdom of Heaven is than here.

Heaven is not just a place we go when we die. It is something we can begin to understand here - as we learn to love God and one another; to experience God's love for us; as we leave behind the world of sin and self-seeking, and discover truly what it means to be a child of God.

We are not meant to be sorry that this life is so short. The shortness is all the better really if we consider that we are heading towards a better situation.

This is readiness in a more permanent sense. We are living already in partial possession of Heaven.

This takes away any fear we might have in the first sense of readiness. We do not see death as just being suddenly plucked from this life, but as an entry into a fuller life for which we have been preparing.

God does not want us to fear Him as we might an inspector or an auditor. If we love Him enough we will have no fear. We will be ready in both senses.

We would prefer God to anything on earth, and be ready at any time to make the move from here to there.

People have always tried to work out when the end will be, and whether we can get some kind of warning, or advance notice?

The wisdom from all the valid sources tells us not to worry about dates - because if we are ready every day we will be ready on the Last Day, even if we do not know it is the last.

It is better to use all our energy on living the right way. That is the best way to be ready for a sudden end, or to attain the deeper readiness for eternal life.

There are certain difficulties to overcome.

It is hard to think of eternity when we are so immersed in paying the bills, making ends meet, dealing with the current crop of problems.

And there is that sense that the end is always a long way away.

While the sky is blue can it ever end? History says Yes. What seemed never never will one day be at our front door.

And while we have our small pleasures on earth, is there anything better? Yes again.

Every year we are reminded to ask these questions. We should be thinking of them more than once a year, but at least once will keep us within range.

We think on a grand eternal scale, while still keeping our feet on the ground.

The near and the far come together, and we find peace with both. We possess God already in hope; one day in complete fulfilment.

Second Last Sunday after Pentecost 15 Nov 2020 Sermon

Second Last Sunday after Pentecost 15.11.20  Conversion

On a busy road there are cars going one way, and cars going the other way. We might wonder where the other side is going. Maybe they are getting out of the place where I am going?

Life is like that. We have to pick which road we are on, and work out if it is the right one, or do we need to change direction?

Everyone has some kind of creed or philosophy on which to base their lives, but it is very easy to pick on the wrong one.

There are so many conflicting opinions and beliefs out there in this age of too-much.

Then there are all the temptations to false gods: Come this way, and find happiness. False promises. Try this, try that; try anything and everything. The false gods have a way of looking true, but they will not satisfy.

We need the right road; only one will do. We know we have discovered it in Jesus Christ - the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14,6).

The Church has its own version of the roads going in opposite directions. Some people are coming in, while others are going out. Some people are just discovering the truth, and others are abandoning it at the same time.

We need people to come, but not to go.

Today’s parable of the mustard seed. We can call the Church a tree, or a flock, or  a building, or a banquet… all these images convey unity in the truth, a refuge secure because it is based in Truth;  actual reality , and not just someone’s opinion.

But how do we make the right decision? How can we help others do that?

If we look only at the human level, it is easy to find fault with the Church, and hence to leave, or not to join.

There are the scandals, keeping us mindful of too much humanity, and too little divinity at work!

Then, many Catholics lose their faith on encountering some alternative, articulately offered.

 Every argument against the Catholic faith can be answered, but it sometimes takes a certain amount of patience and time. Not everything can be dealt with in a few seconds.

It is a good idea to turn off all electronic devices and spend time in prayer.

Prayer is good for many reasons, including the likelihood of finding the one true God: and with that, the right road to be on.

Looking upwards, we have God and Our Lady and all the courts of heaven, beckoning us to join them.

We can clear all the distractions and falsehoods in one bound. It does not have to take a long time to find the truth. If we are really seeking, the true God will make Himself known.

Once in the right relationship with Him then all else falls into place.

There is no doubt we will stay in the Church. We have found the way in, and will not be trying to get out.

Now we have work to do – helping others to see why they should join us.

One thing we must do is remove the scandal; any excuse people find not to join us.

Yes, we have contributed to the sin, but no more.

And where possible, we evangelise and catechise.

Our Lord says, Come! This is before we have even repented. The coming and the repenting are one movement, as we become aware of our guilt on one hand, and the joy of forgiveness on the other. We hasten to our true home, now completely sure which road to take!

23rd Sunday after Pentecost 8 Nov 2020 Sermon

 

23^rd Sunday after Pentecost 8.11.20 The Communion of saints

These are worrying times for us, as we try to defend the truth and the right in the face of bolder assaults on the Church, and all that we hold dear.

Your holy cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. (Is 64,10).

We must do all we can. We pray, fast, live holy lives etc. and never give up.

With so many things to pray for, we might feel inadequate to make the prayer succeed.

We think of the saints working miracles left and right, and then doubt if we could do that! We can find strength when we need it. We do not have to go it alone. We might be alone physically when we pray, but we have the whole treasury of the Church to call upon.

The recent feasts of All Saints and All Souls remind us of our communal nature as the Church.

Your problems are my problems. Everyone else’s problems are our problems.

We can help each other, not just in a practical sense, but through mutual prayer, each helping the other to a deeper faith.

The whole Church is the Body of Christ with each part reliant on the other, and able to help each other stay alive.

We feel weak in many ways, but we draw strength from within this Body of faith, hope and charity. The strong should help the weak (Rm 15,1).

We might feel a lack of conviction sometimes but we know that others will believe what we may not; or they will believe it more strongly. The same applies for hope, and charity.

The Church has within her ranks those who believe with certainty, those who can hope despite adverse appearances; those who can love even when hated in return.

The steadfastness of the Church sustains us. Every day there is Mass, the Divine Office, other prayers and devotions going on - around the clock, and around the globe.

We are absorbed in that prayer, reinvigorated. Courage, hope, and all necessary qualities are restored for us.

The durability of the Church can be ours at the individual level. The Church has survived every kind of crisis. So can we. Even death will not defeat us.

There is a strength in the Church which far exceeds what any individual could manage.

The Church stands strong and tall, offering refuge to all who feel their inadequacy.

Individuals may falter; the Church stands firm.

We do not allow anything to deflect us. The faith of the whole Church is carrying us, weak individuals though we may be.

Our belonging to the Church makes us one. Thus the images of salvation presented in the Scriptures: we are one people, one flock, one tree, one building etc.

Being made one is itself part of the objective. Together we all learn to love God more, and place more trust in Him. We grow in love of neighbour, increasingly desiring the salvation of others.

We can always delve a little deeper into the spiritual treasury of the Church, and call on this combined power. Very likely we will feel stronger.

Even in this church now angels and saints are present. They join us, as we join them.

We are never alone when we pray. We may be physically alone but we are praying with, and for others. The needs of one are the needs of all. The strength of all is available to the individual.

All Saints and Holy Souls, pray for us.

All Saints Day 1 Nov 2020 Sermon

 

All Saints Day 1.11.20 Making sure of salvation

Today we celebrate the entry into Heaven of countless people, including very likely many we have known, such as our own family. Anyone who does get to Heaven is a saint, and they make up the ALL Saints of today’s feast.

It is comforting to know that ordinary people can get to Heaven. We do not have to be as good as the canonised saints.

Just how good do we have to be?

We must have at least some life in the soul; be in a state of grace. That will get us at least as far as Purgatory, and eventually Heaven. We want to be in a state of grace all the time, in case of sudden death.

While we can be aware of minimum requirements, it is much more helpful if we aim as high as possible.

We could think: Well, if the ordinary can make Heaven then I will be ordinary too, not exerting myself to do more than the bare minimum.

However if we are sensitive to the promptings of God we will see that God is attractive, that holiness is attractive and that is the path to follow.

It takes a little effort on our part but we do not begrudge that.

God wants us to apply some effort because that will engage our attention, and enable us to discover certain things we would never manage otherwise.

We will discover the joy of being in close union with Almighty God, a greater joy than any earthly experience could give us.

God wants us to reach a point where we love Him for His own sake, not just for what He can do for us.  

At the end of time the question will be: Do you love Me?

We can love God to different degrees. We are meant to hunger for more, to seek God and all His goodness.

With this understanding we do not see prayer or other religious observances as a burden; they become attractive as well. It is a joy to pray as we sense coming closer to God.

It is a matter of desire. If we desire something enough we will easily discard other lesser desires.

Are we certain of getting to heaven? Some claim that they are certain; that they have made a decisive choice once and for all.

Others will claim certainty simply be relying on God’s love. If God loves me then He will not send me to Hell. This latter position is very common these days. There is no serious fear of Hell in such cases.

We are supposed to be confident of salvation but not complacent about it. Even St Paul said he had to be careful he would not fall (1 Cor 9,27).

Salvation is a process rather than a point in time. We are growing into our salvation rather than claiming to possess it like money in the bank.

Growing in the love of God is the best way forwards. We do not measure out our response; we simply go for more, then more again.

We seek to love God more each day than the day before.

We let ourselves be absorbed into His world. We grow in holiness, praying more, doing more good deeds.

If we fall, we quickly repent and get back on course.

By a combination of being good - or being sorry that we have not been so – we reach Heaven ourselves. 

Not by our own merits but by the saving merits of Christ. 

There we join in perpetual gratitude with the heavenly chorus (Rev 15,3).

All holy men and women pray for us. All angels and saints pray for us.