Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Today is Black Friday the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. Canada had their Thanksgiving at the beginning of October and other countries have similar fall and harvest festivals centered around abundance and giving thanks to our creator, God. In other parts of the world these celebrations happen at various times and places but they are based on giving thanks to God for blessings in our lives.
Today we will not be talking about conspicuous consumption. We will be talking about “second chances” and how we are blessed because of it.
We don’t often get second chances in life. We go down one road and it either is the right road or the wrong road. In one of the Muppet Movies there was a scene where Kermit, the frog, was given directions ” When you get to the fork in the road, take it.” The movie screen showed two roads and at the apex was a giant fork.
Ask yourself this question. “Which road will I take?”
My mother had a dream. When she was a young woman she wanted to sing in a choir. She raised two children both my sister, Patti who has talent, and I who do not both did sing in choirs for major parts of our lives. But my mom between helping raise her younger brothers and sisters, working and raising children of her own it never happened. She never drove a car and would depend on my dad, my sister or me to get to where she needed to go.
When my dad died, either my sister or I would take her to church. Since we sang in the same choir she would come to practice before Mass. She sang along and because of her singing everyone encouraged her to sing with the choir. She did.
Turns out that was one of her bucket list dreams and we didn’t know. As she went onto sing, she developed friendships and skills that lasted her the rest of her life. She got a second chance and it was the passion of her life.
As we begin our new liturgical year we need to affirm everyday that God gives us the fact that we have a second chance. Remember, it is not how often we fall or fail. It’s how many times we get up and try again.
Going back to our Gospel in Luke, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
This does not mean just the generation of the apostles but for our generation today. The past is gone. All we have is today. Our dreams, our chances of joy, our chance to do better are today.
Yes, I know I have sinned in the past but today is given to all of us to do better. We don’t have to repeat the past. We have a second chance. When my mother died the choir sang her favorite song from Abba, ” I have a Dream”. She was very modern for a 86 year-old lady. My mother was first generation Polish immigrant. She love Saint Pope John Paul.
Everyone of us on earth today has a bright future, because of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Christ our King has given each of us today and tomorrow a second chance. Then I saw a new heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
