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There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them, a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose, a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew, a time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate, a time of war, and a time of peace.” ~ Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
The first reading for Mass today reflects the broad range of emotions that we experience during our lifetime. These verses in scripture validate our feelings. It is ok to feel the way that we do, right now, during this exact moment in our lives. We don’t have to pretend to be happy when we’re not. It’s ok to weep, to mourn a loss, and to be sad about the circumstances we are going through. The holy men and women in the bible also experienced the same emotions, and many of the same experiences that we do.
Life can seem pretty empty at times, especially when we are going through a major change in our lives that wasn’t of our own choosing. Have you ever had the experience of feeling like everyone ran off and left you alone? Maybe your friends left for college and you didn’t. Or your boyfriend broke up with you. Even worse, your spouse may have left because of a divorce. Or you are finding it hard to face the future alone, after your spouse died. Maybe you never married and you feel like you are on the outside looking in at other happy couples. Or, if your kids recently grew up and left home, your house probably feels more than a little empty sometimes.
The empty place in our heart and in our life will be filled with something one day though. Will we choose what to fill the emptiness with, or will we let other things creep in of their own accord and occupy this space in our life? Will the weeds of sadness and depression take root and grow? Or will we weed out the sadness and depression and open our minds and hearts to new things and welcome new people into our lives?
The only thing for certain is that change is inevitable. Just because our life is changing, it doesn’t mean God does though. Our Father in heaven remains the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and our relationship with Him is forever. Our prayer life, mass, the scriptures and the sacraments are the rocks of stability that we build our lives on. When our circumstances in life changes and our future seems uncertain, there is no better place to turn to, than here. If we fill the empty place in our lives with prayer, mass, the scriptures, the sacraments and new friendships with God’s people, the weeds will not have room to grow, but there will be plenty of room in our life for our hearts to bloom once again.
In today’s gospel, Jesus knew that a major change was coming in his life, and that he would be facing his own death soon. He had a lot on his mind, but even more on his heart, because the gospel said that Jesus was praying in solitude. After praying, he asked his disciples who people thought that he was? Then he asked them, who did they think he was?
Peter answered with faith:
“Peter said in reply, ‘The Christ of God.”
But Jesus also answered Peter with faith – by telling him what would happen in the future, so that when it did happen, Peter would realize that he was right, Jesus really was the son of God.
Peter answered Jesus with faith, and in return, Jesus answered him in a way that would strengthen his faith in him, in the future. Do we have the courage to do the same? Believe in Jesus, even when life seems empty? Or when someone, or something, that is very important to us, is no longer a part of our lives? When our future seems a little empty, bleak or uncertain?
If we have faith in Jesus, he will have faith in us. In spite of all of Peter’s flaws, Jesus had faith in him. It is the same with us. Jesus loves us and has faith in us, even when we have fleeting doubts, about whether he really cares about what we are going through or not. Peter went through a wide range of emotions too, but Jesus didn’t care so much about his fluctuating feelings. What he did care about was Peter’s love for him, and his strong faith in him.
Our feelings, emotions and life circumstances constantly change, but three things never do. Our faith, hope, and love. These things last a lifetime, and live on into eternal life.
Daily Mass Readings:
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-11 / Psalm 144 / Luke 9: 18-22
