Homily for 23 Oct 2015

23 Oct 2015

We often look to the western sky, just like Jesus says we do.  There are clouds, and we think: “Rain is coming.”  Or pretty soon we’ll be thinking: “Snow is coming.” We know how to look ahead and see what’s coming.  And we know how to prepare for it by making wise decisions.

And we can extend our “forecasting” abilities into the realm of morality, as Jesus suggests we do.  If we’re faced with a question of right or wrong, we have enough experience in life to know which of our choices will turn out well and which ones won’t. 

But we can extend our ability to look ahead into looking at our life as the Church.  Jesus says: “Interpret the present time;” interpret the present life of the Church and make wise decisions based on what we see.  And what we do we see?  Is it sunny, clear skies?  Or are there clouds and shifting winds that we should pay attention to?

The number of priests continues to dwindle.  How long can we go on like that?  We’re a mission diocese now—priests from other countries come to us to help us.  It used to be the other way around.  There’s a chilly breeze in the air to pay attention to. 

Or we consider our youth, and how far too many of them are practical atheists.  And the Tradition is not being handed onto them; some of them couldn’t care less about it.  What a sad thing it is to realize many of them don’t even basic Christmas songs: sad and worrisome.  There’s a cold front we need to pay attention to.

There’s a moral component to what Jesus says: “Look ahead and make wise decisions.”  But there’s also a spiritual component.  How is the church doing today?  Is she healthy?  Is she splintered and falling ill?  While sometimes a bad forecast can seem overwhelming, we do what we can—each in their homes—to ensure that the storm will not beat us.

And, in that, our security, our hope for the future lies with the Lord.  And so, we pray with the psalmist today: Lord, save us.  Save your church, for we are yours.