Once again the whole
liturgy of the Word invites to reflect on the fact that we will die, sooner or
later but we will die, so should we
be frightened? Should we be afraid of
death? Should we be afraid of the end of time? St. Paul tells the Thessalonians
and us that we know we should be ready for the end, but we shouldn’t be afraid
that it will catch us off guard. We won’t be in the dark as long as we live in
the Light of the Lord.
Some of the
people in Thessalonica were so convinced that the end of time was coming soon,
that they stopped working. Paul had to write a second letter to Thessalonica
saying that those who were unwilling to work should not eat and condemning
those who instead of remaining busy were acting like busy bodies. We need to
devote our lives to developing the talents we have been given, as in our Gospel
reading, and fulfilling our responsibilities in our families, as exemplified by
the worthy wife of the first reading[1].
Few weeks ago we
talk on our homily about Dorothy Day, and today I would like to talk briefly
about Pope John XXIII. He served from 1958 to 1963. Pope John XXIII was a
simple man, a humble man. He embraced a motto for his life which was as simple
as he was. His motto was, Now, I begin. Every day is an opportunity to begin
the work of the Lord once again. We need the determination to live each day as
the first day and greatest day of our lives. Every day we need to begin again,
to find new ways to live in the Light of the Lord[2].
Perhaps some
sort of an addiction has derailed our lives, causing serious damage to
ourselves and others. But that was then,
this is now. We have been graced with
the ability to let God work through us despite the addiction. His power is made
perfect in our weakness, as St. Paul says in his letter to the Christians of Corinth[3].
Perhaps the lure
of sin seriously damaged our spiritual lives. Everybody was getting drunk, so we
joined in. Everybody was taking drugs, so we joined in. Everybody was treating
others for their own personal enjoyment, so we did the same. We were in the
darkness. But we are not now. We are now in the Light. We cannot allow our past
failures to diminish our determination to fight for the Kingdom of God. Now we
begin.
Addictions,
sinful life styles, sinful choices, no matter what we have fallen into, no
matter what lies we have fallen for, the end is not upon us yet. There is still
time to live for the Lord. We can live in the Light. We need to look for new
ways today and every day to serve the Lord. For today and every day we must
begin.
Blessed John
XXIII has a beautiful prayer that I would like to share with you all this
morning. It is called the daily Decalogue
of John XXIII:
Only for today,
I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the
problems of my life all at once.
Only for today,
I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will
not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize
anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.
Only for today,
I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in
the other world but also in this one.
Only for today,
I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted
to my own wishes.
Only for today,
I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just
as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to
the life of the soul.
Only for today,
I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.
Only for today,
I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt,
I will make sure that no one notices.
Only for today,
I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will
make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.
Only for today,
I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God
cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.
Only for today,
I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is
beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do
what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.
Exactly! Let us ask
God for His grace to live day by day, without fear, trusting in his mercy, in
His plan for each one of us ■
[1] Sunday 13th November, 2011, 33rd
Sunday in Ordinary Time. Readings: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31. Happy are
those who fear the Lord—Ps 127(128):1-5. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6. Matthew
25:14-30.
[2] Blessed Pope John XXIII (Latin:
Ioannes PP. XXIII; Italian: Giovanni XXIII), born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (25
November 1881 – 3 June 1963), headed the Catholic Church and ruled Vatican City
from 1958 until his death. Pope John was elected on 28 October 1958. He called
the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) but did not live to see it to completion.
He died in 1963, only four-and-a-half years after his election, and two months
after the completion of his final encyclical, Pacem in Terris. He was beatified, along with Pope Pius IX, on 3
September 2000.
[3] 4:13
