Monthly Archives: September 2017

Monday of Week 25 in Ordinary Time (Year I)
Ezra 1:1-6 | Psalm 125(126) | Luke 8:16-18

‘No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed. No, he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in.’ (Luke 8:16)

Our pilgrim group joined the locals for mass in Split yesterday, in place of our usual private celebration. We had no hope of understanding the celebrant’s homily, but we were nevertheless schooled by a couple of young kids.

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The celebrant was holding forth on his thoughts about the day’s liturgy, while I was nodding away and doing a fake translation from Croatian to English in my head. Something about how I shouldn’t be jealous about those who come to know God on their deathbed. I think that was it, but I can’t be sure…

…because a stunningly beautiful little girl made her way to the front of the church, and blew my mind (plus my homily contemplation). Stopping at the foot of the sanctuary, she turned around and beckoned to someone behind her, while beaming a carefree and heartwarming smile that lit up the entire church.

Taking a step at a time up to the sanctuary, she would pause, turn around and beckon again. Step, turn, smile, beckon.

No one present was looking at the homilist at this point, and no prizes for guessing who the homilist himself was looking at.

Soon, a handsome little boy approached the sanctuary too, whereupon the girl scampered off to a side altar, while her embarrassed father chased after her. The boy ascended to the sanctuary in turn, sat down at the foot of the processional cross, turned to the homilist and put on a pondering look.

I don’t think anyone present will forget this celebration for quite a while.

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Those two young children got right to the heart of today’s gospel. Unlike us mature adults, they didn’t believe in hiding their love for God and their neighbors.

Hurry up! Jesus is waiting!

Yes, Lord, You have my attention. Teach me Your ways.

Their love shone forth, and we all saw their light.

If I had the courage to truly act on my Christian faith, and wasn’t worried that I might be tagged as a pedophile, I would’ve gone up and given them both a hug full of love.

Perhaps, next time, I won’t be so reserved, though I’d have to be careful about how I express that love.

Hurry up! Jesus is waiting!

Amen.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Isaiah 55:6-9 | Psalm 144(145):2-3,8-9,17-18 | Philippians 1:20-24,27 | Philippians 1:20-24,27

Of all the possible topics for table talk, death is one of the most unexpected.

Yet, at our meals in the Croatian resort towns of Makarska and Split, the end of our existence reared its ugly head in the midst of sun, sea and sand.

Over a Makarskan lunch of beef broth and pork chop, the table conversation abruptly turned on a question of euthanasia, of how to deal with loved ones who’d had enough of crippling pain, or even those who were no longer mentally able to care about anything.

And over a sumptuous dinner in the magnificent glow of the sun setting over the Adriatic Sea, one of our fellow pilgrims shared photos documenting her very bizarre insect-inflicted skin infection. Out of nowhere, the words, “if God wants me to go back home…”

It made me reflect on my own end of days, especially in the light of St. Paul’s admission to the Philippians that he too longed to return to the Lord. I seem to be of the same mind as St. Paul: deep down in my soul, I really long to see the face of God, but I know that there’s much here on earth that I can and should do in His name.

I guess there’s only one thing to do: Soldier on, doing what must be done in the name of Christ, but always be ready to release my grip on all things mortal, when He calls. Not looking forward to it, but not dreading it either.

Amen.

Friday of Week 24 in Ordinary Time (Year I)
1 Timothy 6:2-12 | Psalm 48(49):6-10,17-20 | Luke 8:1-3

Over the last two days, I’ve been privileged to interact with three workhorses.

The Boeing 777-300ER, a mainstay of long-haul flights:

The Bombardier Q400, a common sight on short domestic hops:

Fr. Paul Staes, devoted priest and occasional carrier of shopping bags:

I think the Lord is hinting that, just as St. Paul exhorts Timothy and companions in today’s reading, He wants me to be a workhorse too, doing His work quietly, without complaint or reservation, just keeping my nose to the grindstone of Love for Him and neighbor.

Hmmmm…