As the Church year draws to a close the readings speak of upheaval and distress before the coming of God's kingdom. The world usually supports the status quo. The rich want more riches and the powerful want more power. Change often comes at a dear price. From the beginning of his life Jesus met with resistance from the world.
How are we Christians to deal with this reality? The prophet Malachi tells us that God's day will come, things will be put aright. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the way to prepare for the coming of the Lord is to keep busy with God's work, not acting like busybodies. In Luke's gospel the Lord instructs his followers to have patient endurance in the face of this world's trials. His promise is to remain with us always.
Each of these scriptures serves as a reality check. The world is not going to welcome the followers of Christ with open arms. If we take our faith seriously enough to make Christ present for others through our lives, we should expect resistance, maybe even persecution. Isn’t that what the Lord promised? Our mission is to change the world one person at a time, starting with ourselves. By perseverance we will accomplish our task and secure our lives in the process.
Have you ever played host to guests who obviously did not appreciate your hospitality? I am talking about the kind of people who come late, do not participate in the conversation, and keep looking at their watch in order to leave as quickly as possible. Such people are obviously not having a good time. The same is true of participation in weekly worship. Sunday Masses usually run from 45 to 55 minutes. If you include the time it takes to get dressed and enter and exit the parking lot, it may take as much as an hour and a half. This is less than one-tenth the hours in a week. The time we spend in Sunday worship is not so much time we owe to God as it is time we owe to ourselves. Block out enough time to enjoy your Sunday worship. Don't short change yourself!
Several important events will take place this week. The Mothers' Club International Dinner will be held next Saturday. This is always a special cultural and dining adventure. You do not want to miss it! Also the Women's Club will be hosting a bake sale after the Masses next weekend. Pick up some delicious, home made treats to begin this holiday season.