12 September 2018 - this world in its present form

Today's Readings (Audio)

For the world in its present form is passing away.

This is hard to see from our perspective. Our everyday experience is all of the world continuing apace as it always has. Yet we know that the new day of the resurrection has already begun in Jesus. In our spirits we are already seated with him in heavenly places (see Ephesians 2:6) where inequalities cease and every tear is wiped away. Paul wants us to reevaluate our present circumstances from this perspective.

From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping, 
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.

The best of our earthly joys and the worst of our earthly griefs are nothing compared with eternity. 

"In light of heaven, the worst suffering on earth will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconvenient hotel." - Saint Teresa of Avila

What we read Paul saying above is the same thing that Jesus teaches in his sermon on the plain in our gospel from Luke.

Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.

Blessed even now are the poor because already they share in the kingdom where they finally have justice. The hungry can already experience spiritually the satisfaction for which they hunger physically. Those who are sad can even now taste the joy of the Spirit.

In fact, those who are afflicted have the advantage of not being satisfied with what they have. Those who are satisfied are at risk.

But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.

If we are so rich that we forget to lay up treasure in heaven (see Matthew 6:19-21) we will find our wealth does not last. If we feast on the most sumptuous foods but ignore spiritual food we will find ourselves no better off than the rich man who neglected Lazarus on his doorstep (see Luke 16:19-31).

So if we do have much let us still use it as not using it fully. Let us recognize it is passing away so that we can recognize where true and lasting joy is found.

They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The place of your fathers your sons shall have;
you shall make them princes through all the land.