11th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Leo
Creation, created by God, reflects God’s glory. By looking at creation’s beauty we see a life energy that is the seen, but unseen, presence of God. For example: The cycles of nature seemingly continue without direction. We have the seasons, and year after year we live Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. Each season in its proper order allows for new birth in Spring, maturing in Summer, then Autumn and Winter wind down with a seeming death of a certain life energy. But Spring comes again and the wonderful cycle begins all over again.
Our human families have cycles too. Couples marry, have children, then their children have children and it keeps going. With the passing of years the first parents get older and see the beauty of their families progress through generations. In old age, there is a recognition and acceptance that our winter has come and we will be laid to rest. We joyfully go to join our ancestors. There are many wonderful moments recorded when the dying literally reach out to those dear to them who have crossed over.
Our final destination for each of us is the house of God. The new Eden where life in its fullness will be lived in God - that life energy - forever. This is why St. Paul said, “We would rather leave the body, and be home with the Lord.” This new life is the resurrection of Christ made real.
What is important in the process of sanctification, becoming filled with God, is that we don’t know how it happens. We can not force the seed to die and rise into a tree, but when we allow God to bring us to the right “Place” where the environment allows for growth, it happens. So the Spiritual life is about cooperating with the life energy, Christ, whose spirit redeems all creation.
When we choose to live in Christ, his Spirit creates the environment our souls need to become filled with the divine. This is what we strive for individually and together as a church. We seek the fullness of God in this world, in this moment. Then God comes as creator, redeemer and sanctifier to lift us up to himself and at the end of this path we will happily one day reach out to those who have gone before us with open hearts and hands!