Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
The cooler temperatures and the slight hint of red in the trees indicate that fall is arriving. These changes remind me that the cold gray days of winter are not far away. The scripture readings today remind us that our lives transition through youth, to old age, and then to death- similar to the changes we see in the seasons. Although these transitions can be a source of fear and sorrow, Jesus shows us how to find refuge in God throughout our life, and to find resurrection even in death.
The first reading from Ecclesiastes reminds the reader to “remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” Life passes and old age comes, and the “man goes to his lasting home” where dust returns to the earth as it once was. In the end, “all things are vanity” because things of this world pass away, and a person’s “life breath returns to God who gave it.” The author encourages trust in God from early in life, so that as life and its difficulties present themselves, a person will still find solace and strength in God’s protection. Everything else but God will pass away and will not be able to provide any hope or meaning. To seek anything else but God is an empty venture without purpose or significance.
The responsorial psalm proclaims, “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.” The psalm reminds us again how fleeting our life is. Like grass we spring up anew and by evening we are wilting away. We are called to shout for joy and gladness in the gracious care of God as we recognize that our days are limited and each one a gift from our Creator.
In today’s gospel reading, the disciples are amazed by the many wonderful signs that Jesus has done. Jesus, however, wants them to pay attention as He tells them that He will be “handed over to men.” How is it possible that the “Son of Man” would suffer or even die? The disciples cannot understand, and even though we have over 2000 years to reflect on the life and death of Jesus, it is still challenging to fully comprehend the sacrifice that He offered. Through the course of His life, passion, and death Jesus constantly turns to the Father in trust and love. Jesus illustrates how we are called to turn to God in times of joy and suffering knowing the God will be there always. Jesus also willingly accepts pain and rejection. Because of His choice, Jesus is able to understand our human suffering, and He promises to walk with us in solidarity. When Jesus reminds the disciples of his impending imprisonment and death, He is telling them (and us) that suffering and pain is a part of His mission here on earth. Jesus shows us that through surrender and trust in God, even death can be transformed to new life. Jesus shows us the depth of His love by fully participating in the human condition, so we can find our refuge and hope in Him.
It seems like this year has accentuated the trials and sufferings of our humanity. The pandemic, natural disasters, political and racial unrest, and division in so many areas of our lives are only a few of the ways that our world is being torn apart. As fall arrives and winter is ahead, there is even a heightened fear of the months that are to come and what they might bring. In the midst of all of this, God reminds us that He is our hope and our refuge. Fr. Satish is leading a retreat on St. John of the Cross. In the last session, we were invited to spend 15 minutes a day resting in God’s presence- deepening our awareness of His presence within us. We were also invited to “practice the Presence of God” (Brother Lawrence) where we find God in our daily activities by bringing Him to mind and inviting Him to be a part of everything we do. As Christians, I think we are called during these challenging times to bring God to the world. If we can seek Him and find Him in our daily routine, then we can be a source of healing, love and mercy for those around us. God will be our refuge in these times of struggle, but our witness of God in our lives can then be a refuge to others who are in need of hope.
To be more present to God, we need to be less present to the hate and anger of the world around us. Choosing to lessen social media access and spend our time doing acts of kindness, spending more time in prayer, or reading scripture may be some ways that we can become more Christ-like. Through the greater awareness of God’s presence in our lives, we can find greater peace in our lives which we can then share with the world around us.
Loving Father, Jesus shows us that You are the refuge for every age. Help us to allow the Spirit within to guide our ways, so we can bring Your presence to our world. May Your grace bring us healing and hope. We pray this through Christ, our LORD. Amen
- Marylynn Herchline