Seek the Friendship of God
In the year 79AD, the Roman town of Pompeii was quickly swallowed up by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Within a few minutes heavy streams of lava and Volcanic Ash overtook the city and a short time 12,000 in habitants died. When archeologists began excavating the city years latter, it seem to them as if time had stood still: meals left on tables, mummified casts of the residents doing the ordinary tasks of daily life; children playing, people sleeping, working and going about daily life, cats, dogs, pets animals all Frozen in time if you will. It seems that the residents had very little warning or time to flee. If they had some warning then did not heed it. They neither understood the terror to which they would be subjected or the degree of damage or destruction that was coming their way.
Hurricane Katrina had a similar effect on the ninth ward in New Orleans. I had a conversation with, Roland Driscoll, one of the men from this parish who went down with Catholic Charities a few weeks ago to help with the reconstruction efforts. He spoke of going into an empty apartment-seeing an open copy of a newspaper the day before the storm hit; the table set; and the remains of food left on dinner tables and clothes set out to wear—a oxygen tank and mask for the resident waiting for the person who used it to return. He also spoke of utter destruction with only foundations of some homes remaining. Here it is over one year latter, and he said it was in some ways like walking into a time capsule. Two disasters: Thousands of years apart. Each with a devastating impact—leaving in its wake death and destruction.
I thought of two Boston Residents last summer on their way to Logan Airport to pick up some friends and the shock and horror of a slab of concrete falling on the car and killing the young woman, and yet narrowly missing her husband.
Today’s Gospel though challenging with a tough message certainly seems to put life into perspective. We are told that we will not know the day, or hour of the end times. The end of our own lives, and the end times of our civilization.
In the second reading the author of the letter of Hebrews tells us that in order for us to be prepared for the coming of Christ we must always seek the friendship of God. Always seek the friendship of God. Only if we do this we will be able to make certain that we enjoy the eternal happiness that waits.
In the first reading, the prophet Daniel writing about 165 years before the birth of Jesus, he describes in detail, what the resurrection and last judgment will be like. He talks of times when all of humanity without exception will be judged. He also says that those who have been wise, those who have been right with others shall shine brightly for all eternity.
The readings today are very stern, harsh and somewhat sobering. Ones that I struggled to identify with as I sought to reflect on them. In contrast to these ends of times, I thought of the next week and how we as a country would celebrate the national day of Thanksgiving. I thought of the joyous season of Advent and the coming of Christmas with all its joy and light that takes us away from the season of darkness and ever shortening days and sought to reconcile these thoughts with today’s reading.
The readings today, remind us that life is not forever. Today we are challenged to look back over our past actions and find ways to improve. If we do that we may see times where we may have not lived up to our expectations with respect to our relationship with God and make some changes and putting us in right relationship with God.
Fortunately, for us the church provides a reflective time to do that and it is called the season of Advent. It is a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas, but it is also a time make sure that we focus on being a loyal follower of Jesus by the way we interact with all that we come in contact with.
What can we do? We can look at our relationships with one another and change the things that we need to change. Can we take the time to reach out to one who has offended us or we have offended and make amends?
Can we take time away from our busy lives and spend additional time with those we love and care about. Even if it means, putting our agenda and work lists away for a while?
Can we take time to reach out to someone who may not have anyone with whom they can reach out too? Even if it is easy to ignore them.
Many of us will gather with family and friends next week to celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving. Can we truly be grateful for what we have and offer prays of gratitude to our generous God?
Can we take time during the Upcoming Advent Season to remember that that Christmas is not just about gifts and presents, but it is about the birth of our Lord and Savior and his bringing light into this world. Likewise can we bring light to others? Maybe a kind word? Or thank you? Or just a smile?
The people of Pompeii did not know the time or place of their destruction or they would have certainly left the area. They may have heard the rumbling of the volcano, but did not heed the warning.
The people of New Orleans received some warnings from the National Weather Service. However, many people could not leave the city due to economic or other reasons and some chose not to heed the warnings.
The young couple driving thru the Big Dig Tunnel did not have any warning that a design flaw would evolve into a tragic accident.
Each situation was very tragic and greatly impacted those who were involved.
Today’s reading tell us that we will Neither know the day or the hour and that thought in and of itself may be difficult to take.
Because we neither know the hour or day, what are we to do? Hide in isolation? Not really? This may not change the outcome. We can live our lives fully and deeply as Catholic Christians: helping one another and by sharing what we have with one another.
In conclusion, we can take comfort and hope the words in letter to the Hebrews: “to always seek the friendship of God.: For if we seek the Friendship of God the joy of eternal happiness awaits us all. We all have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the life of another and by doing that, are we not seeking the friendship of God? And by doing that we will secure our own spots in God’s heavenly kingdom.
