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.