Friar’s Corner: What does our guest want?
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23; Psalms 90:3-6, 12-13; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13-21
I used to try and make an observation on each reading or follow the general theme. The first, Psalm and Gospel readings follow one theme, while the second reading offers an alternative theme. With all the confusion and crisis in our parish, church, city, state, country and the world, I am now trying to focus on Jesus and a few points that would help us navigate through the current confusion. Holy Spirit, please give us your wisdom and clarity as not to get caught up in what will take us in the wrong direction.
For the early part of our life, we can go to schools and get caught up with a lot of stuff in the culture around us. As we finish school and get into the “real work world,” we begin to really ask, what are we going to do? How are we going to make a living to sustain ourselves? How am I going to find the good person to share my life with and move through the maze? What are my, and if married our, goals in life? After about twenty years we may begin to ask, does life just end in death and that is it?
What’s the use?
These questions are vaguely answered in this week’s scripture readings. The first reading seems to say human life doesn’t make much sense. What is the use of it all if it only ends in death? Psalm 90 asks God to “teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. …Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.”
If we are talented enough, have studied and worked hard, we can gain a lot of success, fame and money. That is a big “if” and not many are at that point. If we gain many of the world’s goods when we die, to whom will all of that go? We can take no physical possessions with us when we are put in that final box in the ground. Probably because of some past insecurity, I love to collect all kinds of things that may prop up my ego. As an older and mostly retired person, to who will all of my books, files and things go? People will come into my rooms and throw most of it out as junk. So I am trying to clean out much now.
What is God’s plan?
God gave us human life through our parents and their kindness in raising us. We all have personalities, natural talents and gifts. What is God’s plan and help to use those gifts and talents to be happy? How are we to help others in their need while making the area around us a better place to live? At the end of our life, we shall be judged on how we used God’s gifts to improve ourselves find some happiness and help others.
Where do we find God’s plans and keys to help us grow physically, economically and spiritually? Many of God’s plans are in our scriptures, mostly in the New Testament. We need some daily time to read the New Testament. We need to think and pray about what our “good book” tells us and put it into practice, adjusting some things to fit the culture we live in today. Daily Mass is our greatest source of divine power flowing from the throne of God in heaven, Revelation 22:1-2. The Eucharist is the best meal on earth and Jesus is our daily bread. The other sacraments are also channels of God’s power in our life, along with our personal prayer relationship with the Holy Trinity. Equipped with these tools we will be better prepared to face the difficulties that face us culturally and in the world.
Keep your eyes on Jesus
We want to take as our own Hebrews 12:2, “Keep your eyes focused on Jesus.” Then we know we are going in the right direction and our great reward will be in heaven. Remaining in the church that Jesus Christ directly founded, that we now call Catholic, in some places, has many ways to advance our growth in various little renewal groups, like Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, Christ Renews His parish, Charismatic Renewal, Arise, Renew, Life Teen, etc. None of us are perfect yet we can greatly assist one another in these various little family groups to form friendships and help one another along life’s journey. It is nice to know we don’t have to walk along.
Let us help one another be great torches of God’s light and love in this world. With these helps that God provides through his church, we shall happily be together in heavenly glory.
Have a good positive week,
+ Father Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com
(© 2019 Father Bob Hilz, TOR)
