My friends, without being political, and in a most general way, I would say that those who accepted their privileged right this past week, as a citizen of this country, to vote, spoke to the overriding felt need to be better as people in our 250th year as a democracy. Now, those who seriously analyze elections would say that the issue of the economy was on the line. And while that is probably true for many, I believe a close second was the values, or lack there of that have seemed to permeate the tone of our country on the world stage – there was that sense for so many that we are better than this. Our brother Jesus, in his lifetime, when asked about the “rightness” of other’s actions, answered very simply, “Check the fruits.”
Our actions in the world, in our everyday lives should be about goodness, not meanness, about justice for all, not greed by some to the detriment of others, truth, not lies, a striving for peace among our neighbors, not war, especially if we claim to be “Christians.”
Additionally, this week brought back “hope” that we can try again, to be better. Someone said to me this past week, “I feel like I can breathe again!” I had to agree because now I feel, there is the desire and the possibility to truly try again!
This Sunday brings us once more, ever closer to the end of our Church Year and the start of a new one. Endings are always an opportunity to look back and see what has been good and what can be better. Each year, by following the spiritual story of our lives as Christians.
I find myself anticipating the opportunity of this introspection of my past life and the hope of something better by way of goodness for myself and others. I hope that each of you has a bit of that anticipation too!
The Scripture readings for this Sunday give us much good counsel for doing this. The psalmist today in #63 gives us some lovely words which should buoy us up in our daily striving to be our best; “your love is finer than life.” My friends, in all that life may bring, we should hold onto, and never forget, that we are loved by our God. There is the sad tendency the past several years, coming from the hierarchy of our Church to distance us from our God, uplifting “the mystery” of God rather than the desire of God to be in relationship with us – to be close. I believe that if it was God’s intent to remain “a mystery,” God would not have sent Jesus to be, “one of us, and with us” — something we will be highlighting throughout the seasons of Advent and Christmastime.
Today’s Scriptures give us the beautiful text from the Wisdom literature, and through the inclusive reading from the Priests for Equality, that we use here, we are introduced once again to the feminine face of God through the use of the pronoun, “She.” Through their work, (the Priests for Equality) if we are open to it, we can see our God in a so much grander way.
The Wisdom literature is all about the Spirit of God, writ large, and we should not miss this clearly feminine face of our wonderful God. The writer says, “the very thought of Wisdom is understanding fully grown” – or as theologian, Sister Sandra Schneiders says, “God is more than two men and a bird!” Continued growth in wisdom, should open us up to this grander form of God! And back once again to the psalmist, “Oh God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you.” We should ever be seeking to know God better, not less, or place him/her, in a box!
Additionally, looking at the 2nd reading from Paul to the Thessalonians, we should ever keep our eyes on Jesus – his actions, and his words. Paul, in this reading is talking about “Jesus coming again,” something he and others thought would be sooner, rather than later, to take all the faithful with him to a place where, “we will be with Jesus unceasingly.” And while this may be true, we shouldn’t forget that when Jesus left us the 1st time, he said, “I will be with you always!” So, once again, there is no need to worry about what comes next, but just strive now, to be our best!
The gospel today from Matthew, at first read, sounds rather harsh, and again, we shouldn’t read it literally, but see basically the counsel to “live wisely, and to be prepared” – don’t wait until tomorrow to show our best selves to the world – no time like the present!
Last week I mentioned the book on Francis of Assisi that I am presently reading, God’s Fool by Julien Green. He writes that Francis’ greatest lament once he finally turned his life over to God was, all the years he had wasted.
My friends, we began today with a simple ritual of remembering those wo have gone before us, the matriarchs and patriarchs of our All Are One community, along with remembering those from our own families who have passed on. We remember them best by emulating in our own lives all the good we saw and experienced in theirs. We did this today through the lighting of candles to keep their own particular “lights” alive. If there are those in your family whom you may have had fractured relationships with, as is the case in mine, I have found it best in my own life to lay that sorrow at Jesus’ feet and ask him to help complete that relationship.
So, my friends, as we come to an end of one Year of Grace and anticipate a new one, let us remember all who have gone before us, continuing to live out all the goodness that they gave us and others in their lives, along with remembering that our God is always with us, to show us the way, if we but ask. Amen? Amen!
