19 Sept 2014 - last things first

St. Francis Mary of Camporosso

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.

With the Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna we accompany Jesus and the Twelve on their journey. Like these women we too have are set free from the grasp of evil spirits by the power of our baptism. Like them, we are made firm by the power of Jesus. Our infirmities are healed as he strengthens us in our inner being with power through his power (cf. Eph. 3:16).

With them we are called to provide for the hierarchy out of our resources, our time, talent, and treasure. We do this not out of obligation but to help Jesus to preach and proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God.

If we aren't motivated to help with this mission maybe it is because we forget just how good the good news is. Maybe we let it be watered down to the vaguely practical and pragmatic. The Kingdom of God isn't just about how to be nice to one another. It isn't just about what to do with our money or how we should volunteer at soup kitchens. It is all that. But all of the things it is on a natural level are sustained by what it is on a supernatural level. It is the resurrection that gives meaning to everything.  Paul tells us that "if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins." He insists that "we are the most pitiable people of all" if we take all of the other aspects of Christianity but miss the key point. Yet we don't see miracles everyday. We begin to think of the Kingdom only in the familiar terms of our daily lives. We begin to hope "for this life only" because of how insistently this life demands our attention.

We need to walk with Jesus more consciously. As we walk with Jesus he wants to reveal himself to us as the risen LORD.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

We are given grace to "Think of what is above" when we take this hope to heart.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory (cf. Col. 3:2-4)

We learn to keep "our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of our faith." We certainly see all of the kindness and charity to which we aspire embodied in him. But we also see the Spirit working mighty deeds through him. We gaze upon him on his cross in the times when there are no obvious miracles. We gaze and continue to gaze until in three days he is raised from the dead. When we don't look away, dropping our gaze and our hope, we are given the power to hope and act in spite of apparent futility. Jesus endures the cross because "of the joy that lay before him" (cf. Heb. 12:2) and now so do we.

When we walk with him he is close enough for us to fix our eyes upon him. When we do this we are actually able to cast our cares upon him and trust that he really does care for us (1 Pet. 5:7). We make our intentions known to him and his peace really does guard our hearts (cf. Phi. 4:6-7).

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; 
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee 
from their foes to refuge at your right hand.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings,
But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.