Have you ever bumped into someone you know when or where you least expected to meet them? Like when you’re on vacation out of town and you run into a neighbor at a restaurant. I remember once waiting in line to make my confession at the National Shrine, when all of a sudden, who appeared at the end of the line? Stephanie my wife!
Encounters like these are a surprise to us because we expect to meet certain people only at particular times and places. The same thing happens to us with God, I think. So often, we expect to meet God only when we’re doing obviously “religious” activities: When we pray, read the Bible, go to Mass, and things like that. And obviously, we can and do meet God in these ways! At the same time, however, we can easily forget that God is present at all times and in all places- especially in the midst of our daily routines. As a consequence, we pass up many wonderful opportunities for us to encounter and spend time with God. St. Teresa of Avila once reminded her fellow nuns that “God walks among the pots and pans!” In other words, we shouldn’t be surprised to meet God in the kitchen- and indeed we should look for him there, just like we look for him in church.
Today’s gospel reminds us that many people will be surprised when Jesus comes again. That’s why Jesus tells us- two times!- to “stay awake.” What he means is that we should prepare for his second coming, so that we won’t be caught “off guard.” However, one great way for us to prepare for his second coming is to be “awake” to his coming into our lives now- at every moment, and in every circumstance. As we heard, Jesus spoke of coming while people were working in the field and grinding flour at a mill- everyday, routine tasks for the people of his day. Likewise, it is in our everyday, routine tasks that we too should look for Jesus to come.
But how do we do this? How might mowing the lawn, cooking dinner, folding the laundry, cleaning the floors, waiting in line, or commuting to work become grace-filled moments? It’s easy to dismiss these times as “wasted’- chores to be done or “necessary evils” to be endured before we can move on to more exciting and more productive things.
However, there are two things we can do, both of which were recommended three hundred years ago by a simple Carmelite monk known as “Brother Lawrence.” You may be familiar with his classic little book, The Practice of the Presence of God.
First of all, Brother Lawrence suggests that we might just need an “attitude adjustment.” In other words, the things we do grudgingly or reluctantly we can do cheerfully and joyfully if we do them for the glory and praise of God.
But can we really do the dishes or fold the laundry for the glory of God? Yes we can, because they are acts of service, and any act of service can glorify God if they’re done in the right spirit. In fact, Stephanie saw me writing these words just as she was going to wash the last of the Thanksgiving dishes, and I have her permission to say that her attitude about that task changed dramatically! She said, “I’m going to wash these dishes for God.” And she did- with a smile!
The second thing Brother Lawrence suggests we can do is to pray little prayers all the time. This takes a real effort, but it’s an effort worth making. Think of it this way: As we go about our day, what is our mind often filled with? More often than not, it’s filled with worries about money, frustrations about time, concerns about what others think of us, regrets, resentments, fantasies, self-pities, personal agendas, and other stuff we’ve become obsessed about. Yet if we spend this time trying to pray instead, we’ll become more aware of God’s loving presence, and we’ll probably we happier people as a result.
How can we do this? First, we can pray when we start something and pray again when we end it. For instance, say a prayer when you roll out of bed in the morning instead of moaning or groaning. Pray again as you go to sleep. Say a prayer before each meal and pray again when you leave the table. Pray as you start your workday and pray again when you leave for home. Pray as you begin a drive and again when you safely arrive at your destination.
And be sure to pray while you’re driving! Turn off the radio and talk to God. It’s not hard to do! Give thanks to God for everything you should be grateful for –by name- or lift up all the needs and concerns and people that have been placed on your heart. And a prayer for that driver you cuts you off is a far better gesture than others you might be tempted to make!
Don’t forget other opportunities to pray too. When I’m in the shower, I pray for those in my family who have died; when I’m shaving and brushing my teeth, I pray for my kids; and while I’m getting dressed, I pray for my wife and our marriage.
Brother Lawrence reminds us that if we do everything for the glory of God and pray frequently, we will give Jesus many opportunities to come into our lives. We know that Jesus will come again, by why wait till then? Let’s “stay awake” to his presence now, and welcome him into our lives today, so that if he comes tomorrow, we won’t be surprised. As the great Cardinal Newman once wrote, “He looks for Christ…who is awake…who looks for him in all that happens, and who would not be surprised, if he found he was coming at once.”
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Christ the King
Back in 1982, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq was losing a war with Ayatollah Khomeini’s Iran. Saddam offered a cease fire, but Khomeini would only accept it if Saddam stepped down as president. Saddam called a meeting of his cabinet to discuss the situation. Because they feared him so much, the Cabinet members were almost unanimous in agreeing that Saddam remain president. “Saddam is Iraq and Iraq is Saddam!” they insisted. The minister of health, however, suggested that Saddam step down until peace was achieved, at which time he could resume his position. Saddam promptly had him arrested. His wife came that night to plead for his release, reminding Saddam of her husband’s loyalty. Saddam promised he would return her husband. Which he did the next morning- in a body bag.
This sad story is an extreme example of the old adage that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Power has been misused throughout history, in every sphere of society- politics, business, families, militaries, organized religion. The corruption of power is certainly evident in the Bible. In today’s first reading from 2 Samuel, we heard how the people of Israel hailed David as their new king. Of course, it has been king Saul’s abuse of power that had led them to this. The prophet Samuel himself had warned the Israelites that kings would lord it over them and take advantage of them, seeking only to increase their power and wealth. Even David, whom Scripture presents as a good king, grossly misused his power when his desire for Bathsheba led him to send her husband Uriah to a certain death.
Power does seem to corrupt. The truth is, however, that it’s we who corrupt power. All power and authority ultimately come from God, which means that they’re good things. It’s part of God’s plan that there be people who exercise power and authority for the well-being of every human community. In other words, power and authority are gifts from God. They’re to be used in a morally correct way for the benefit of the common good and the well-being of others, so that people can live in peace and freedom.
Unfortunately, as with so many of God’s gifts, authority and power can be misused. Thankfully, our Lord Jesus has shown us how to responsibly use any power and authority that God has given to us. Jesus, of course, has ultimate authority and power. He is “king of kings and lord of lords.” All things are subject to him. But how he used his authority and power has a great deal to teach us about how we use ours. This is one of the important lessons we can take away from today’s celebration of Christ the King.
Think back to our first reading again. We heard that the Lord promised to David that, as king, he would be a shepherd to the people of Israel. This image of shepherd is important. A shepherd king was a servant, a benevolent leader who cared for the powerless and risked his life to protect those in danger. David did this and, of course, so did Jesus. People wanted and expected Jesus to be a powerful military leader who would lead an uprising against the Romans. But Jesus did nothing of the sort. He was a king, but a shepherd at the same time, and that led to his death. It’s for good reason that Luke’s account of the crucifixion is the gospel reading for today.. It’s a reminder to us that Christ was most a king while he was dying on a cross. He was indeed the good shepherd; he was truly a servant. By his example, Jesus shows us that power should be used in service, and that leaders are to be servants.
The model of leadership given to us by Jesus stands in sharp contrast to many contemporary notions of power. Power, authority, and positions of leadership are commonly viewed as a means to dominance and superiority. People seek them for their own benefit and advancement. Dr. Jerrold Post, a political psychologist at George Washington University who for decades has analyzed world leaders for the CIA and our nation’s presidents, says this: “If we were to subtract from the ranks of world leaders those politicians who have significant narcissistic personality features, the ranks would be perilously impoverished.” In other words, too many people in positions of political power are egotistical and self-serving. Jesus, however, shows us that selflessness, and not selfishness, should be characteristic of a Christian’s exercise of power.
But what does all this mean for you and me? First of all, as voting members of a representative democracy, we can keep these principles in mind as we evaluate candidates to vote for. Second, even though everyone isn’t a political, business, military, or church leader, we all have spheres of influence- either in reality or the wishes of our heart- that we’re tempted to control or manipulate. It can be a work situation, a club or organization we belong to, or our relationships at home. It’s very easy for us to corrupt power in these circumstances, because we want to control them, so they can serve our purposes. We want to get our way and be honored by others. So we seek to manipulate and control. We make selfish decisions that hurt others. We gossip and spread rumors. And we go along with the crowd in order to stay popular and influential, even when we know the crowd is going in a wrong direction.
The temptation to do these things is very real. That’s why we should constantly remind ourselves of the example of Christ the King, who used his power to benefit others, and submit ourselves to his authority through obedience and prayer. Some words of St. Augustine, meant for a new bishop but just as applicable to us, sum it up well: “The one who is to preside over the people, must understand that he is the servant of all.”
(Acknowledgment: This homily was greatly inspired by the chapter on power in Arthur Simon's How Much is Enough? Hungering for God in an Affluent Culture, published in 2003 by Baker Books.
This sad story is an extreme example of the old adage that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Power has been misused throughout history, in every sphere of society- politics, business, families, militaries, organized religion. The corruption of power is certainly evident in the Bible. In today’s first reading from 2 Samuel, we heard how the people of Israel hailed David as their new king. Of course, it has been king Saul’s abuse of power that had led them to this. The prophet Samuel himself had warned the Israelites that kings would lord it over them and take advantage of them, seeking only to increase their power and wealth. Even David, whom Scripture presents as a good king, grossly misused his power when his desire for Bathsheba led him to send her husband Uriah to a certain death.
Power does seem to corrupt. The truth is, however, that it’s we who corrupt power. All power and authority ultimately come from God, which means that they’re good things. It’s part of God’s plan that there be people who exercise power and authority for the well-being of every human community. In other words, power and authority are gifts from God. They’re to be used in a morally correct way for the benefit of the common good and the well-being of others, so that people can live in peace and freedom.
Unfortunately, as with so many of God’s gifts, authority and power can be misused. Thankfully, our Lord Jesus has shown us how to responsibly use any power and authority that God has given to us. Jesus, of course, has ultimate authority and power. He is “king of kings and lord of lords.” All things are subject to him. But how he used his authority and power has a great deal to teach us about how we use ours. This is one of the important lessons we can take away from today’s celebration of Christ the King.
Think back to our first reading again. We heard that the Lord promised to David that, as king, he would be a shepherd to the people of Israel. This image of shepherd is important. A shepherd king was a servant, a benevolent leader who cared for the powerless and risked his life to protect those in danger. David did this and, of course, so did Jesus. People wanted and expected Jesus to be a powerful military leader who would lead an uprising against the Romans. But Jesus did nothing of the sort. He was a king, but a shepherd at the same time, and that led to his death. It’s for good reason that Luke’s account of the crucifixion is the gospel reading for today.. It’s a reminder to us that Christ was most a king while he was dying on a cross. He was indeed the good shepherd; he was truly a servant. By his example, Jesus shows us that power should be used in service, and that leaders are to be servants.
The model of leadership given to us by Jesus stands in sharp contrast to many contemporary notions of power. Power, authority, and positions of leadership are commonly viewed as a means to dominance and superiority. People seek them for their own benefit and advancement. Dr. Jerrold Post, a political psychologist at George Washington University who for decades has analyzed world leaders for the CIA and our nation’s presidents, says this: “If we were to subtract from the ranks of world leaders those politicians who have significant narcissistic personality features, the ranks would be perilously impoverished.” In other words, too many people in positions of political power are egotistical and self-serving. Jesus, however, shows us that selflessness, and not selfishness, should be characteristic of a Christian’s exercise of power.
But what does all this mean for you and me? First of all, as voting members of a representative democracy, we can keep these principles in mind as we evaluate candidates to vote for. Second, even though everyone isn’t a political, business, military, or church leader, we all have spheres of influence- either in reality or the wishes of our heart- that we’re tempted to control or manipulate. It can be a work situation, a club or organization we belong to, or our relationships at home. It’s very easy for us to corrupt power in these circumstances, because we want to control them, so they can serve our purposes. We want to get our way and be honored by others. So we seek to manipulate and control. We make selfish decisions that hurt others. We gossip and spread rumors. And we go along with the crowd in order to stay popular and influential, even when we know the crowd is going in a wrong direction.
The temptation to do these things is very real. That’s why we should constantly remind ourselves of the example of Christ the King, who used his power to benefit others, and submit ourselves to his authority through obedience and prayer. Some words of St. Augustine, meant for a new bishop but just as applicable to us, sum it up well: “The one who is to preside over the people, must understand that he is the servant of all.”
(Acknowledgment: This homily was greatly inspired by the chapter on power in Arthur Simon's How Much is Enough? Hungering for God in an Affluent Culture, published in 2003 by Baker Books.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
Oh, the Places You’ll Go is a book by Dr. Seuss in which he speaks of the triumphs and tragedies that await young people as they journey through adulthood. At one point, he speaks a “most useless place” called “The Waiting Place.” People there are, and I quote, “Waiting for a train to go, or a bus to come, or a plane to go, or the mail to come, or the rain to go, or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow, or waiting around for a Yes or No, or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting!”
The implication is that that time spent waiting is often wasted time. Perhaps that’s something to keep in mind in since we are people who are waiting. As today’s Scriptures remind us, we are waiting for the Day of the Lord, the end of the world, the return of Jesus in glory.
As we wait, the temptation for us is to waste time. We heard St. Paul speak to this temptation in his second letter to the Thessalonians. The early Christians to whom he wrote expected Jesus to return within their lifetimes. As a consequence, some of them decided to stop working altogether. They ended up just hanging around, gossiping, and “mooching” off their fellow Christians. In today’s lingo, they’d be called “slackers.”
Most of us don’t expect Jesus to return in our lifetime. We don’t have that same sense of anticipation that our earliest brothers and sisters did. We probably assume, if we even think about it at all, that Jesus will return at some point in the distant future. In today’s gospel, Jesus himself seems to suggest that he will return later, and not sooner, when he told people that all kinds of things would happen before he came again- natural disasters, political upheavals, wars, and religious persecutions.
In other words, we may have a lot of waiting to do. But we shouldn’t think of the time we spend waiting as wasted time. Nor should we waste the time we spend waiting! Instead, we should see all of the time available to us as an opportunity- to live the gospel, spread the gospel, grow in grace, build God’s kingdom, and do God’s will, whatever our circumstances might be.
A great model for us in this regard is Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who died about five years ago, and is now on the track toward sainthood. He was named Archbishop of Saigon just before the end of the Vietnam War, and was arrested shortly after Saigon fell to the communist North Vietnamese. He was never tried or convicted of any crime. Nevertheless, he was imprisoned for thirteen years, nine of which were spent in solitary confinement.
In reflecting on his experience, Cardinal Van Thuan observed that much of a prisoner’s life is taken up with waiting- waiting for meals, for someone to speak with, for exercise time, and most of all, for freedom. He recalled a Catholic bishop who had been imprisoned in China who said, after his release, “I have spent half my life waiting.” Cardinal Van Thuan resolved not to let that happen to him. Instead, he was determined to live his life in the present and make the most of his life as a Christian, even in prison.
And he was true to his promise. He found inspiration from a small crucifix he made from a piece of wood and some wire which sympathetic guards had given him. He made a tiny Bible from scraps of paper. He wrote beautiful prayers which have since been published in a book called Prayers of Hope. And at night, he wrote encouraging messages to the Vietnamese people. At great risk, these handwritten notes were smuggled out of prison, copied by hand, and circulated within the Catholic community. They have been printed in a book entitled The Road of Hope. One thing he wrote was this: “While in prison, everyone waits for freedom, every day, every minute. We must live each day, each minute of our life as though it is the last.”
That’s great advice for all of us: To live each day of our life as if it is our last. Or to put it another way, to live every day as if it’s the world’s last. Certainly not by wasting time, but making our best use of it. We certainly will be judged on what we do with our time. Today’s Scriptures are quite clear on that point. So we don’t want to be caught off guard or unprepared. But what should we do?
First of all, we can ask ourselves how we feel about the prospect of Christ’s coming. Is it something we look forward to with eagerness and hope? Or is the prospect of our Lord’s return something that fills us with apprehension and fear? If it does, we may wish to ask ourselves: Am I living the sort of life I would want to be living if Jesus were to come today? For most of us, the answer is probably “No.” Because in spite of our faith and good will, we all have aspects of our lives in need of change, repentance, and conversion. In addition, we may have good intentions to do many good things, from helping others to jump-starting our spiritual lives. But we keep putting them off by making excuses in order to do them tomorrow instead of today.
But if we live each day as if it’s our last, we won’t let that happen. If we live the present moment to the fullest, we won’t regret the past or wait around for the future. If we see our waiting time not as wasted time, but as an opportunity, we’ll make the best of what the Lord has given to us. So that when he does come, whenever that will be, we can, in the words of today’s Alleluia Verse, stand erect and raise our heads, for our redemption will be at hand.
The implication is that that time spent waiting is often wasted time. Perhaps that’s something to keep in mind in since we are people who are waiting. As today’s Scriptures remind us, we are waiting for the Day of the Lord, the end of the world, the return of Jesus in glory.
As we wait, the temptation for us is to waste time. We heard St. Paul speak to this temptation in his second letter to the Thessalonians. The early Christians to whom he wrote expected Jesus to return within their lifetimes. As a consequence, some of them decided to stop working altogether. They ended up just hanging around, gossiping, and “mooching” off their fellow Christians. In today’s lingo, they’d be called “slackers.”
Most of us don’t expect Jesus to return in our lifetime. We don’t have that same sense of anticipation that our earliest brothers and sisters did. We probably assume, if we even think about it at all, that Jesus will return at some point in the distant future. In today’s gospel, Jesus himself seems to suggest that he will return later, and not sooner, when he told people that all kinds of things would happen before he came again- natural disasters, political upheavals, wars, and religious persecutions.
In other words, we may have a lot of waiting to do. But we shouldn’t think of the time we spend waiting as wasted time. Nor should we waste the time we spend waiting! Instead, we should see all of the time available to us as an opportunity- to live the gospel, spread the gospel, grow in grace, build God’s kingdom, and do God’s will, whatever our circumstances might be.
A great model for us in this regard is Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who died about five years ago, and is now on the track toward sainthood. He was named Archbishop of Saigon just before the end of the Vietnam War, and was arrested shortly after Saigon fell to the communist North Vietnamese. He was never tried or convicted of any crime. Nevertheless, he was imprisoned for thirteen years, nine of which were spent in solitary confinement.
In reflecting on his experience, Cardinal Van Thuan observed that much of a prisoner’s life is taken up with waiting- waiting for meals, for someone to speak with, for exercise time, and most of all, for freedom. He recalled a Catholic bishop who had been imprisoned in China who said, after his release, “I have spent half my life waiting.” Cardinal Van Thuan resolved not to let that happen to him. Instead, he was determined to live his life in the present and make the most of his life as a Christian, even in prison.
And he was true to his promise. He found inspiration from a small crucifix he made from a piece of wood and some wire which sympathetic guards had given him. He made a tiny Bible from scraps of paper. He wrote beautiful prayers which have since been published in a book called Prayers of Hope. And at night, he wrote encouraging messages to the Vietnamese people. At great risk, these handwritten notes were smuggled out of prison, copied by hand, and circulated within the Catholic community. They have been printed in a book entitled The Road of Hope. One thing he wrote was this: “While in prison, everyone waits for freedom, every day, every minute. We must live each day, each minute of our life as though it is the last.”
That’s great advice for all of us: To live each day of our life as if it is our last. Or to put it another way, to live every day as if it’s the world’s last. Certainly not by wasting time, but making our best use of it. We certainly will be judged on what we do with our time. Today’s Scriptures are quite clear on that point. So we don’t want to be caught off guard or unprepared. But what should we do?
First of all, we can ask ourselves how we feel about the prospect of Christ’s coming. Is it something we look forward to with eagerness and hope? Or is the prospect of our Lord’s return something that fills us with apprehension and fear? If it does, we may wish to ask ourselves: Am I living the sort of life I would want to be living if Jesus were to come today? For most of us, the answer is probably “No.” Because in spite of our faith and good will, we all have aspects of our lives in need of change, repentance, and conversion. In addition, we may have good intentions to do many good things, from helping others to jump-starting our spiritual lives. But we keep putting them off by making excuses in order to do them tomorrow instead of today.
But if we live each day as if it’s our last, we won’t let that happen. If we live the present moment to the fullest, we won’t regret the past or wait around for the future. If we see our waiting time not as wasted time, but as an opportunity, we’ll make the best of what the Lord has given to us. So that when he does come, whenever that will be, we can, in the words of today’s Alleluia Verse, stand erect and raise our heads, for our redemption will be at hand.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary time
A few years back, all the priests of the Archdiocese attended a convocation at a very nice resort hotel. While in my room, I flipped through the hotel chain’s magazine, which promoted its other resorts around the world, and I was struck by the language used to describe what one could receive at these places. Words like healing, harmony, purification, wholeness, peace, renewal, bliss, nourishment. It was even claimed that my spirit would be inspired and my soul would be warmed.
After reading the magazine, I started seeing this language everywhere. The hotel bathroom’s dry skin cream was “renewing body lotion.” The complimentary needle and thread was a “restoring kit.” The tag on the bottled water encouraged me to “make my body happy.” And the café downstairs promised that their coffee would “rejuvenate (my) spirit and refresh (my) outlook.” Which is a lot of pressure to put on a cup of coffee!
Maybe this is just marketing language used around resorts and spas. Or perhaps all the talk about healing, restoration, wholeness, happiness, and peace is a reflection of a very real longing we all have: A longing not just for a little rest and relaxation, but for something deeper, something that strikes at the very center of who we are as human beings. A longing to be healed of our wounds, to have our brokenness made whole, to discover lasting peace and abiding joy. A longing for something we were made for but was somehow lost. A longing for resurrection and eternal life with God in heaven.
God himself speaks to this desire in today’s words from Scripture. In Maccabees we heard of an oppressed people’s hope that they would be raised to new life after their present suffering. The Alleluia verse proclaimed that Jesus is the first born of the dead. And in the gospel, Jesus defended belief in the resurrection against those who denied it.
Resurrection and heaven are also things we think about in the Church during this month of November. Beginning with All Souls’ Day on November 2nd, we pray for the dead that they might be welcomed into heaven and rise again to new life. This is our dearest hope for them. It’s also our hope for ourselves. As Christians, we long for heaven; we look forward to resurrection.
Yet there are some who criticize us for this. They say that to focus on the next life will lead us to avoid dealing with the problems we face in this one. To long for heaven, according to them, is simply an “escapist” way to avoid reality. But this isn’t true at all. Living in hope of heaven actually leads us to live better lives, not just for our benefit, but for the benefit of our fellow human beings, and indeed for the whole of creation.
Christians don’t ignore this world’s problems while we wait for the next one. Far from it! When we see suffering, pain, and injustices around us we think: “This isn’t right! This isn’t fair!” We know that God created us to enjoy peace, happiness, wholeness, and love, and when we see these being denied, we’re motivated to bring about change. Just consider the history of Western Civilization. It has been Christians- those who hope in heaven- who have abolished slavery, built hospitals, sheltered orphans, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, defended the poor, protected the weak, fought for justice. We have prayed and acted that God’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Without belief in heaven, we might not have the courage we need to do the things we need to do. Consider the family in the reading from Maccabees. Their anticipation of the next life, their belief in heaven, their conviction that this life isn’t all there is gave them the courage to stand up for what’s right, and to make a witness for the truth, in spite of the consequences they would face for it. Hope in heaven made them brave! And the same could be said of countless numbers of courageous witnesses and martyrs down through the ages.
Belief in heaven is a powerful motivation for us to do the right thing. Think of it this way: If this life is all there is, what’s the point in being good? Why forgive those who hurt us? Why love our enemies? Why be chaste? Why give our money to charity? Why try to be a saint when it’s easier, and seemingly more fun, to be a sinner? Why not be selfish? Why not just eat drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die? Why? Because our hope for the next life depends on how we live this one. As Dostoyevsky wrote in The Brothers Karamozov: “There is no virtue if there is no immortality.”
In addition to changing our approach to life, belief in heaven can also transform our attitude toward death. Because if death doesn’t mean the end of our existence, then death is really not something to be feared. This is perhaps the major theme of the popular Harry Potter books, in which the key characters are distinguished by their approaches to death. The evil characters, especially Harry Potter’s nemesis Voldemort, fear death, and they seek to avoid it by indefinitely prolonging their lives. But they’re tragic and even pitiable figures. Voldemort was once told: “Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness.” On the other hand, Harry Potter ultimately learns that there is life beyond death, and that it is in this life that he’ll be able to realize and enjoy the things he so desperately longed for on earth.
We all long for things we can’t fully realize in this life. Things like peace, joy, healing, and rest. We may be encouraged to find them at resort hotels. But that won’t do the trick, because our longing is too great. As Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft says, that’s like trying to fill the Grand Canyon with marbles. Our deepest desires will be satisfied only in heaven.
After reading the magazine, I started seeing this language everywhere. The hotel bathroom’s dry skin cream was “renewing body lotion.” The complimentary needle and thread was a “restoring kit.” The tag on the bottled water encouraged me to “make my body happy.” And the café downstairs promised that their coffee would “rejuvenate (my) spirit and refresh (my) outlook.” Which is a lot of pressure to put on a cup of coffee!
Maybe this is just marketing language used around resorts and spas. Or perhaps all the talk about healing, restoration, wholeness, happiness, and peace is a reflection of a very real longing we all have: A longing not just for a little rest and relaxation, but for something deeper, something that strikes at the very center of who we are as human beings. A longing to be healed of our wounds, to have our brokenness made whole, to discover lasting peace and abiding joy. A longing for something we were made for but was somehow lost. A longing for resurrection and eternal life with God in heaven.
God himself speaks to this desire in today’s words from Scripture. In Maccabees we heard of an oppressed people’s hope that they would be raised to new life after their present suffering. The Alleluia verse proclaimed that Jesus is the first born of the dead. And in the gospel, Jesus defended belief in the resurrection against those who denied it.
Resurrection and heaven are also things we think about in the Church during this month of November. Beginning with All Souls’ Day on November 2nd, we pray for the dead that they might be welcomed into heaven and rise again to new life. This is our dearest hope for them. It’s also our hope for ourselves. As Christians, we long for heaven; we look forward to resurrection.
Yet there are some who criticize us for this. They say that to focus on the next life will lead us to avoid dealing with the problems we face in this one. To long for heaven, according to them, is simply an “escapist” way to avoid reality. But this isn’t true at all. Living in hope of heaven actually leads us to live better lives, not just for our benefit, but for the benefit of our fellow human beings, and indeed for the whole of creation.
Christians don’t ignore this world’s problems while we wait for the next one. Far from it! When we see suffering, pain, and injustices around us we think: “This isn’t right! This isn’t fair!” We know that God created us to enjoy peace, happiness, wholeness, and love, and when we see these being denied, we’re motivated to bring about change. Just consider the history of Western Civilization. It has been Christians- those who hope in heaven- who have abolished slavery, built hospitals, sheltered orphans, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, defended the poor, protected the weak, fought for justice. We have prayed and acted that God’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Without belief in heaven, we might not have the courage we need to do the things we need to do. Consider the family in the reading from Maccabees. Their anticipation of the next life, their belief in heaven, their conviction that this life isn’t all there is gave them the courage to stand up for what’s right, and to make a witness for the truth, in spite of the consequences they would face for it. Hope in heaven made them brave! And the same could be said of countless numbers of courageous witnesses and martyrs down through the ages.
Belief in heaven is a powerful motivation for us to do the right thing. Think of it this way: If this life is all there is, what’s the point in being good? Why forgive those who hurt us? Why love our enemies? Why be chaste? Why give our money to charity? Why try to be a saint when it’s easier, and seemingly more fun, to be a sinner? Why not be selfish? Why not just eat drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die? Why? Because our hope for the next life depends on how we live this one. As Dostoyevsky wrote in The Brothers Karamozov: “There is no virtue if there is no immortality.”
In addition to changing our approach to life, belief in heaven can also transform our attitude toward death. Because if death doesn’t mean the end of our existence, then death is really not something to be feared. This is perhaps the major theme of the popular Harry Potter books, in which the key characters are distinguished by their approaches to death. The evil characters, especially Harry Potter’s nemesis Voldemort, fear death, and they seek to avoid it by indefinitely prolonging their lives. But they’re tragic and even pitiable figures. Voldemort was once told: “Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness.” On the other hand, Harry Potter ultimately learns that there is life beyond death, and that it is in this life that he’ll be able to realize and enjoy the things he so desperately longed for on earth.
We all long for things we can’t fully realize in this life. Things like peace, joy, healing, and rest. We may be encouraged to find them at resort hotels. But that won’t do the trick, because our longing is too great. As Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft says, that’s like trying to fill the Grand Canyon with marbles. Our deepest desires will be satisfied only in heaven.
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