Homily for the 33rd Sunday in ordinary time, November 13/14th 2021

 

Homily for the 33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, November 13/14 2021

 

“Those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever." 

 

we hear about the end of the world in both our first reading and our Gospel.  And we hear that eternal punishment is an option – we always have the option to ignore God’s proscriptions and teachings and rules about how we should live our lives,

We can ignore the operating instructions from the God who made us and knows how we best operate

we always have the option to rebel and become, as the Prophet Daniel describes it, an everlasting horror and disgrace.

 

But Eternal bliss is awaiting all who enter Heaven, and that, to me, having had just one real glimpse of that, inspires me to move forward and to continue to press on.  As I have shared many times, in the year after college, I had an experience that changed me forever where I received just a momentary glimpse of the bliss that awaits us in Heaven.

Also, a lot of times, not in the moment but looking back, I can see how the efforts I have made to cooperate with God’s Amazing Grace have affected my life for better right now, here on earth.

 

And so I am striving for Heaven.  And the quote from Daniel encourages us not just to focus on ourselves getting to Heaven but also, at the same time, trying to lead others to Heaven as well.  Again, it says “those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”

 

May we first of all set our heart, mind, body and soul, everything we are and have on getting into the Heaven, and then begin the work of also trying to lead and help others get there with us.