Friar’s Corner: Being right with God brings us joy
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
Wisdom 18:6-9; Ps 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-12; Luke 12:35-40
Please continue to pray daily a Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the conversion of all terrorists. I think we want them to come to know the wonderful love of Jesus for all people. We can also pray another chaplet for our country. We certainly need God’s help. Thank you in Jesus holy Name.
The readings today point to certain people throughout human history that have come to know God, our creator, and have followed the way he wanted them to live. Like us, they did not see the final outcome. They had faith in God’s promises to them and they had hope that what was promised would come to pass. And it did for them. We also inherit God’s blessings as we follow his ways. We were given the gifts of faith, hope and love at our baptism. Are those graces growing in our lives as we get closer to Jesus?
In the last weeks, I have been asking you to set up a prayer place in your residence away from the TV. There you can pray and read about Jesus in the gospel stories. As we do that our faith grows. We have more assurance of God’s promises of eternal joy. And our hope increases to know a little bit here of what we shall enjoy in heaven. As we spend more time with him, his love increases in us. And that love tends to flow out of us to bless those around us each day. Thus we help God make the world a better place to live because we are on earth.
The gospel section of St. Luke this week has Jesus telling a story about getting our life together and being prepared for when Jesus will come to call us from our life on earth. If we have tried to follow his plan, living in his kingdom, we will inherit a heavenly reward. If not, we shall be sent to a bad place reserved for the “fallen angels” and their followers. Jesus is not mean. He created us, put us on earth with many talents and gifts. He wants us to live according to his plan, which our scriptures teach us. He wants us to help him make the earth a better place to live in. Do we have good things to show God when he calls us out of this life?
I think about my own judgment. This past week I have been driving from my residence in Loretto, PA, to Kansas City, Kansas. That has been a long drive on interstate 70. Traffic moves quickly. I could be involved in an auto accident and my time on earth could end in a few minutes. Am I completely ready? Not exactly. Yet I am getting more resolved to get more of the negative things in right order.
May Jesus give us the grace and light to know his plan for us and help us get our life in order according to his plan. So let us pray for that grace. I have also been praying as I drive through the many cities and dioceses where I travel. May God bless all of us.
Peace and all good!
+ Fr. Bob Hilz
(© 2016 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
