RIGHT REALITIES

RIGHT REALITIES – 22^nd Sunday Ordinary Time, Year C

            Life at times imposes something on us, whether it be natural disasters, the actions of others, accidents, the needs of others or our own limitations. Life moves at a steady pace. As we move through life, we get closer to different realities. Some of these we choose, and some are given to us by life itself, by others, by the circumstances of our life, and our work and vocation in life. And we have to choose how we are going to respond.

            In the midst of the complexities of life, we can make choices to move closer to different life realities. We can choose to move closer to things and possessions, to sports, music, parenthood, service, health, different kinds of work, and activities. We can choose to move closer to people, to the Church, to the kingdom of God, to prayer, to good works, to the needs of the poor. But we can also choose to move away from such realities and rather choose to draw near to temptation, sin, drugs, addictions, and various enslavements. All have goals and objectives we choose to “draw near” to.

            We need to be constantly aware of what we are being drawn near to in our life. Some just drift and have little sense of drawing near to good or evil. Being conscious and choosing what it is we are drawing near to is very important, since what we draw near to shapes and forms our life, future and eternity. Many would flee some of the realities they are drawing near to if they could fully envision their consequences. Would ten, or twelve, year old boys begin smoking if they knew the long term costs to health? Would people resist being drawn to various kinds of sins and evils, if they knew where they would end up? What we choose to draw near to needs to be truly good for our long term and eternal future. Too often people settle for drawing near to lesser good instead of the greater goods, not to mention sin.

            The Gospel is always calling us to draw near to the greater good in life, and not to settle for the lesser. Our tendencies toward sin can lead us to be attracted to lesser goods, rather than the higher goods that our redeemed, graced, converted and enlightened better self is attracted and drawn to.

            The Pharisees settle for the lesser good of feeling justified by themselves, rather than being justified by God. A Pharisee or proud person settles for raising him or herself up, instead of being raised up by the Lord. Jesus told a parable about people trying to draw near to the places of honor at table. It would be better to let the host call one to the higher place, than to call one’s self up. Jesus says it’s better to raise others up, than to raise up one’s self. He says it’s better to be drawn to inviting the poor into one’s life, beggars, cripples, the blind, who cannot repay, than to raise one’s self up by inviting those who can repay you. The Lord says “you will be repaid in the resurrection of the just”.

            When we draw near to the poor or the needy in any way, which means every human person in some way, we draw closer to the Lord. The psalm proclaims: “God in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor”. What am I drawing near to in my life, is a question we need to keep before us? The answer reveals who I will be close to, or far from, in my future, and how I’m choosing to direct my life. Sirach tells us to direct our lives “with humility” so we will “find favor with God”. Humility is a truth virtue.

            Clearly our major concern in life always needs to be the drawing near to the Lord, His Kingdom, His teachings, His Church, and to all the means we have to grow in closeness to God. “You have drawn near to Mount Zion and the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.” Those who do will be eternally blessed. If we are not, the time for repentance, prayer, conversion, and new direction has arrived. We need to draw continuously nearer to God our hope.

            Jesus invites all of us into His life, into the banquet of His Church and kingdom. None of us can repay Him. We are to be like Him, and invite others into our life who can’t repay us. “You should be pleased that they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid in the resurrection of the just.” May the Spirit help us “draw nearer” to the Lord each day!

Reflection from Divine Mercy #1602

“When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns away from them to humble souls.”