Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: “You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” (Thomas Merton)
 
This being the next to last Sunday of the present liturgical year the focus of our readings turns to that of the “end time,” or the “second coming,” as it does every year about this time. Our first reading and the Gospel come to us from the apocalyptic literature of the Old and New Testament. Certainly, the Book of Daniel represents the looking ahead, the end time theme of the Old Testament, while this particular section of Marks Gospel forms part of the Synoptic Apocalypse. The focus of each focus on the struggles and difficulties ahead for people of faith.
 
Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples for what they will face not just at the Second Coming but each and every day of their lives. I often feel that the readings at this time of the year are not about figuring out when Christ will come about but about keeping us focused, awake, alert, and ready. In my homily today I stressed, what is our focus each and every day?
 
I told a story from my early life as a priest. How on of the wisdom figures my Passionist Community gave me some sage advice one summer day, He told me he didn’t know much about retreat work, which I was entering for the first time, but that he though I should know this. He basically told me to always celebrate mass like it was my first and last time.
 
Perhaps, that simple piece of advice is the focus of our Sunday readings. The we need to live each day of our life as if it our first and our last. If we do this then we don’t need to know when or where!
 
Have a blessed Sunday everyone and don’t forget to give God a little time today!