Homily for 30 Dec 2015

30 Dec 2015

We want to be careful not to “over-spiritualize” our life.  It can be tempting to think that heaven and perfection is completely divorced the world.  Even Saint John might seem to suggest that when he talks about “not loving the world or the things of the world.”    

But John describes what he means when he talks about “the world.”  He describes “the world” as “sensual lusts, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life.”  In other words, his notion of “the world” is really more about an attitude toward what we consider the physical world.  And so, he cautions against turning the things of the world into little idols, little gods.  But that is merely a caution.  He’s not saying the physical world is bad; he’s not saying “Don’t enjoy life on earth.”

Of course, the birth of Christ in the flesh is a major reminder that God values physical life.  Our bodies, the natural world, the arts, exercise, architecture, food, a warm fire and a cup of hot chocolate on a cold evening . . . they’re all good—as long as we try to see God in them and through them.

When we see a piece of handcrafted furniture, or a painting, or when we hear a piece of music, we experience something of the artist right there in the creation.  God makes everything good thing—whether it’s a physical thing or something else.  And so, the world has the potential to draw us into the life of God the divine Artist, the Creator, the Redeemer.  The world has the potential to help raise our minds and hearts toward God.

And so, we want to be careful not to “over-spiritualize” our life.  We want to caution against making a stark divide between the physical and the spiritual, between heaven and earth, between this life and the next.  And that’s because Christ came in the flesh.  His physical humanity was the way he touched others.  And it’s through his Body and Blood and the whole good world that he still comes to us.