Homily: Twenty-second Tuesday of Ordinary Time (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11)
Twenty-second Tuesday of Ordinary Time (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11) “Get Ready”
We are coming to the end of the readings we will have from 1st Thessalonians at daily Mass during this liturgical cycle. At the end of a lot of Biblical books the writers often take time to sum things up. Inevitably, there is a reference to the end of the world.
In the Old Testament this is referred to as, “The Day of the Lord.” What will this day be about? The Hebrews believed that all time is divided into two eras. The first one is the present age. The second era is the future age. This sounds simple enough until we dive into their Theology
The present age is full of turmoil, suffering and struggle. When we think about it, we would have to say the last week has been a prime example about how hard it is in this age. We have the continuing COVID cases that are rising. Hurricane Ida has ravaged Louisiana. The War in Afghanistan has ended in violence, bloodshed and disappointment. The Biblical writers saw similar turmoil.
But they looked forward to a future age. In that age violence will be no more. Illness will be a thing of the past. Natural disasters won’t happen. Everyone will get along and will have the things they need to be happy.
What stands in between the two ages is, “The Day of the Lord.” This will be a day of Cosmic upheaval. We might compare it to a hurricane hitting. We need to be prepared. The media have reported that billions of dollars was put into the levy system around New Orleans, since Hurricane Katrina happened. Because there was preparation, the hope is there will be less damage.
If we are prepared to meet the Lord, we will be a lot better off too. If we are living good lives, we will be confident in the Lord. And if we know the Lord for the merciful savior he is, we won’t live in fear. We will be eager to see him.
Reflection Questions:
- Do I fear the, "Day of the Lord"? What are the things that make the present time difficult for me?
- Will the last day be a time of celebration for me? Why or why not?
Dear Parishioners,
We will say goodbye today to one of parish staff. Stephanie Hill will be leaving us after many years of service. She was a parish assistant and performed a variety of tasks around our church. Stephanie was always precise in her work. She was also very good on the phone with people. She was a big part of our parish team. She is taking a job at a local college. We will all miss her here at the office and I hope she enjoys her new position. I hope everyone will pray for her as she makes this transition.
This means, of course, that we are short handed in the office. If anyone would like to apply for a full or part time position, please call. A description of the jobs will be in next Sunday’s bulletin. Even if you are not interested, let us know if you know someone who is. We then can invite them to apply.
May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saints watch over you.
Fr. Mark