“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” remarked John Donne. So it is with the holy liturgical season and today is the last Sunday after Pentecost. Thus the Church wishes to focus on the end of our journey in this world. First, we must realize and admit that this earth is destined for futility as St. Paul teaches. Second, suffering will come upon all before the conclusion of this world. Third, we will all gather with the eagles to witness the omnipresence and omnipotence of our Lord in glory.
Every experience of man day in and day out is that anything that begins will also end. There is no escape to this principle that marks all nature. As soon as you wake in the morning you know that you have so many hours to work, pray, study, relax or suffer. Despite what you do the day will end. We know as we begin a work week that Friday will come and the week end follows. Beginnings and endings mark our life to the grave. Note on every grave you see the birth of the buried body and the death date. All that you have between those two dates is a simple dash. It is, as if, all the life of man or woman is summed up with a simple dash and all we took so seriously really doesn’t matter. Only one thing alone will matter: was God pleased with the way in which I lived my “dash”. Therefore as we end this Pentecost season our souls should reflect on our progress in virtues and especially in the love of God.
Following this premise that all begins and ends is the reality that Matt. 24 presents. All men and women, boys and girls and babies at the breast will undergo a suffering unlike any that went before. Universality of pain will come so that each soul will have to act according to where they are and what they are doing. In that moment the soul must strip itself of all attachment to the world and its pleasure. The Cross will come upon each soul and the response must be clear: I must unite my sufferings with the sufferings of Christ upon the Cross of Calvary. Even now our daily reflection upon our death ought to push us to unify whatever manner of death God has planned for us with the death of His only begotten Son. We learn that His death absorbs each soul for in Him we live and move and have our being.
Now the gospel moves us to understand that the eagles mark the way to the Cross of Christ. Eagles are the saints and angels who know and confirm that the Cross is the way of salvation for all of us. Hence we should not go looking for another Christ. You do not need to go out to the deserts or to the mountains or to the sea. His presence will be like the Lightning which illuminates the sky. He is present in the tabernacle of every true oratory or Catholic Church. He is present in the holy mass of all ages. He desires to reside in our hearts if we will but lift up our hearts and minds to Him and the truth He has revealed.
Unfortunately, the abomination of desolation is gathering more and more souls who have been deceived by the evil one. Idolatry comes in many forms in these days: 1) the desire for the toys of the technical world, 2) the entertainment of the athletic fields on all levels, 3) the power of the political parties to claim their own truth while neglecting the natural law (e.g. abortion, same sex “marriage”, euthanasia, usury…), 4) refusal of people to order their families and their own lives to glorify the Creator. The point is that the Cross of Christ is rejected in favor for an earthly prize. The result is chaos worldwide.
What shall we do to find some relief for our souls? If you began well in the faith then follow the center of the faith to its conclusion: I must love the cross that God offers me. I must trust that His grace is sufficient for the trials that surround me. I turn to the Mother He gave me upon the Cross and I cling to her holy rosary as a life chain for my eternal happiness. With Jesus and Mary I remain united with the holy Catholic Church family of all times. How wonderful it will be to conclude this life of testing and enter the reward of the saints. We can bask in the beauty of our Lady, the wisdom of Thomas Aquinas, the humility of St. Francis of Assisi, the courage of St. Claire, the youthful love of St. John Bosco. There is a greater family waiting for us and cheering us on in the face of the trials. Keep your spiritual eyes fixed on heaven and love every suffering the Father shares with us to perfect our souls.
May the good Lord encourage you to prepare an Advent plan of sacrifice in preparation for the Incarnation of the most holy Son of God. Start planning today by a simple prayer, a daily act of mortification, a consecration to our Lady and write it down. The writing out of your plan insures that you will do it. God bless you.
In the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
Fr. Richard Voigt
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