Isaiah 25:6-9
"...On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of
well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will
destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread overall
nations; He will swallow up death forever...."
What a contrast we see in the lessons we read this morning! Two realities unfold before us!
One reality we are very familiar with!
We live in it
day to day! Oh yes there is friendship and beauty and fun and love…but there is
also the unexpected, illness and sorrow and loss!
The
prophet Isaias describes our situation as living life covered by a veil! He speaks of a shroud that
covers the face of all people that darkens all the nations! There is a shadow
that affects us and all
creation!
John in our lesson from Revelation asks one of the heavenly beings who the multitude of persons before
the throne of God are! His answer is revealing! To at least one celestial
being they are the same people who were living in great tribulation in a
world of turmoil.
Does that describe our world and sometimes our life?
The
gospel also illustrates his truth! It speaks to us of of a family that Christ had
befriended and whom he loved, Mary Martha and their brother Lazarus, who quite
unexpectedly seems to have fallen ill and dies!
NO surprise for us here! Specially in the last year we have lived with
illness, upheaval, masks, vaccine, social distancing, isolation, lack, fear
of death, the loss of loved ones and friends.
Jesus himself said to his
disciples, in this world you will have difficulties!
John, 16:33 ~ I have said these things to you, that
in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation
1 Peter 4:12 ~ Beloved, do not be surprised
at the fiery trial when it comes upon you,
In this world that is, in this present reality, we now live and
journey! Here we have to work, raise
our families, here we fall in love, confront adversity, confront a pandemic,
see success and disappointment, sometimes are beset by fears.
We must do so trusting every day
in God, calling out to him in our time of distress, waiting for Him to answer
our call, going to him with our questions, with our complains, when we face
trials and do not understand, even as Mary and Martha do in our gospel
lesson…!
The other reality
we see in a vision of the Spirit!
God speaks to the Apostle John and has promised to make all things new,
to set all things right! there is no
hunger or thirst , where there is no mourning or pain, no scorching heat and
where the tears of all will be no more!
It
is to God and to the peace and beauty of this place that we have
entrusted our
loved ones who have departed this life. We no longer see them but still are
united to them by love! Today as we remember them we pray that they delight in
the presence of God, that their sorrows are healed, and that we will one day be
together again! It is also the promise of Jesus to the grieving sisters in our gospel lesson. I am the resurrection and the life, those who believe in me will live
even though they die…! And this one to his disciples, In my fathers house there
are many rooms…I will go and prepare a place for you and I will come for you so
you can be where I am!
Between one reality and another we
wander! We are people that are
passing by, folks looking for another
place! Those who are immigrants have a sense of what that means…preparing to
leave a place for another! we are folks that should understand impermanence, people
who are citizens of the nations yet also
hold a citizenship in heaven.
Hebrews
13:14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking
forward to a home yet to come
1
Peter 2:11 Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth !
We
are GYPSIES We are nomads, we go to a permanent home with God!
THIS is the message of All Hallows and
Hallowtide…don’t squander the gift of life, BE THE light in a world of
darkness, understanding and reconciliation where there is conflict and hatred,
a voice in favor of the week and the needy! WE need to remember, to be vessels
for God, a home for his Spirit touched by his peace!
Blessings
Seraph
No comments:
Post a Comment