Weekly HOMILY for November 17, 2013: 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C -- That “Someday” Is Now!

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33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

St. Barbara’s Church, Cleveland, Ohio

November 17, 2013

That “Someday” Is Now!

By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato

Story of the Unused Slip

Recently I read a story about a man whose wife had just died.

This man opened the bottom drawer of his wife’s bureau and pulled out a tissue-wrapped package.  He unfolded it and showed his sister-in-law, his wife’s sister, a beautiful silk and lace slip.

He said, “Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, about eight years ago.  She never wore it.

“She was saving it for a special occasion.  I guess this is the occasion.”

He then placed the slip on the bed with the other clothes they would bring to the funeral home.  Then he said to his sister-n-law, “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion; every day you’re alive is a special occasion.”

Jan’s sister remembered these words through the funeral and the days that followed.  She thought about the things her sister hadn’t done and about all the things she had done without realizing they were special.

The words of her brother-in-law began to have a real impact on her.  She writes, “I’m reading more and dusting less.

“I’m sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden.  I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.

“As in getting the sink unstopped, we now use our good china and crystal to celebrate almost anything. I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter or luster to our lives.

“And every moment I open my eyes, I tell myself that what I’m seeing is special.  Every day, every minute, every breath…is a gift of God.”      

The Gospel and Now

This widowed man and his sister-in-law have great insight for us.

They express the impact of what Jesus is saying today in the Gospel.  Jesus talks about a time when the temple will be destroyed and all kinds of things will happen.

Some people respond to this by trying to guess the future – when the end of the world will come.  They approach this with fear and preoccupation.

The truth is that Jesus here trying to get us to focus on the present and not the future.  And he is trying to get us to live with love and hope rather than anxiety and fear.

In other words, Jesus wants us to see that today is the day to live.  Today is special and we need to be aware of that.

Yes, someday there will be an end-time.  Someday we will pass from this earth, as Jan did in the story.

But the way to be ready for that day is to live the present, to live today well.  The way to be ready is to realize that today is special.

How to Make Today Special?

How might we do this?

I came up with three things we might think about.  Perhaps these are three questions to ask ourselves each day to make sure that we are making every day special and that we’re living the present well.

First, who are the most important persons in my life today?  Did I do something good for one of them today?

Did you express your love in some way for your spouse or close friend, or did you spend time with your son or daughter, or were you thoughtful of a co-worker?  Did I do something good for someone important in my life?

Second, am I at odds with anyone?  Is there a relationship that is ruptured? 

Did I think about it today and consider if there is something I could do to work out some reconciliation?  Can I let go of my pride and ask for forgiveness or let go of my hurt and give the forgiveness?

And third, did I intentionally spend some time with God today?  Did I reserve a few minutes just to quiet myself and be in God’s presence and to listen for him in the depths of my heart?

Did I pray some prayer that I know by heart or did I read a few verses of the Gospel to see what Jesus might be saying to me personally?  Did I just “be” quietly, peacefully, reflectively in some way with God today?

Conclusion

I recommend asking these three questions each day.

(1) Did I do something good for someone important in my life? 

(2) Did I consider what I could do to get reconciled with someone?

(3) And did I spend some time with God? 

Our doing these three things will help us to make today special and to live the present well, and this is the best way we can prepare for the future.