The Sun, Moon, and the Stars (2012-11-

November 18, 2012, 33^rd Sunday

[ Daniel 12:1-3  | Psalm 16 |Hebrews 10:11-14, 18 | Mark 13:24-32 ]

[__01]    In this Gospel, Jesus speaks to his disciples and to us about the end of time and the end of our lives.

And, while telling us the Good News of his Second Coming, Jesus also describes this with images that are startling –

• A darker moon
• Fading sun
• Falling star

Here in the New York metropolitan region, we would be very inclined to study the signs in the sky – of meteorology, weather, astronomy – any signs that could influence the tide, the storm, or any disaster.

For example, we know that the high and low tide in the ocean is affected by the force of gravity on both the earth and on our moon.  Hurricane Sandy remains a “superstorm” also because of a sign in the sky – the gravity of the moon.

More scientific understanding, then would lead to more preparation, more gasoline-powered generators, or so we might think.

[__02]    Our preparation for a storm, a hurricane, an earthquake, however, does not necessarily remove our fear of the crisis.

Certainly, many things could happen for which you and I neither forewarned nor forearmed.

And, certainly, death and dying – in general – is one of these things.

November – the month of All Souls – is a time that we pray for our loved ones who have died and we offer special Masses for the living who mourn.

___PAUSE _____

While the hope of eternal life, the hope of reunion with our loved ones in heaven exists and is real … this does not completely eliminate our fear of separation, change, mourning, sorrow.

Or, our fear that something can happen for which I am not prepared. Mothers and fathers can  prepare for many things, on behalf of their children.  But, death is not one of them.

Try that on Google ?

This is not on anyone’s Government / FEMA / disaster preparedness To-Do List.

Jesus himself at Gethsemane – in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his trial and crucifixion begs God the Father:

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Truly Jesus had not a  backup/emergency generator. The “generator” was in his heart, in his person, through the grace – the energy – given him by God.

His fear, in this sense, is real but it does NOT become an obstacle.

The storm of death and suffering are real. They are to be feared.

But, in this case, the Lord’s fear is of the storm.

For me, emotion may manifest itself as a fear of something, of something unknown, such as a storm.  Then, on top of this, in addition, my fear itself becomes a Category 5 Hurricane.

This could happen to any of us.

___PAUSE _____

[__03]  St. Augustine asks, do we really fear the end of time, the end of our lives? Do we fear death?

For some of us, for those who may have only a little understanding of our faith, death is only a scientific or chronological reality. That is, it is just a moment in time. 

It’s the end of time.

It is when time stops.  In scientific – astronomical terms, some might say death is SIMILAR TO the fading soon, the darkened moon, or the falling star.

Or, perhaps, death is something even greater in magnitude, wider in diameter and far, far away... ?

Death is, say, the black hole in outer space …that would be one alternative view. I’m not supporting this particular view.

For us, however, death is not so LARGE, not so far away…and, in some ways, not such a drastic change.

We believe – and we come to learn often painfully through the process of grief and mourning – that death is more of a take off point than a landing or even a burial.

In the funeral mass, we pray – and believe – that in death – life is changed not ended.

So, should we fear Christ’s coming?

Loving God, loving our neighbor, and making sacrifices which might actually make his poor, uncomfortable, or even without electricity …. All of these things indicated that we do not fear death.

Rather, we are willing to die to ourselves each day.

We do not fear death or God’s coming; we welcome it.

[__04]  If, on the other hand, I am really not loving God, not loving my neighbor ..If I am leading a selfish life … if my pleasure, my comfort, my sins are # 1, then I would fear God’s coming.

Augustine – in a very blunt and direct manner – puts it this way – do we love God or do we 

love our sins more?

Of course, we love God but we may need help to overcome our sinfulness and turn back to God again and again.

For this, however, our Church, in the sacrament of penance and reconciliation has also given us some emergency and crisis management methods.

We are called to examine our lives, to seek forgiveness, penance and thus to open ourselves to God without fear.

As as we read in the first letter of John, perfect love drives out all fear.

We need not fear his arrival or anything in the moon, or the stars, or the sun, on heaven, or on earth, even death and dying.    [__fin_]