Sunday's gospel was Matthew 20: 1-16a about the landowner who paid his workers the same wage regardless of the number of hours they worked. This gospel and the Prodigal Son gospel always evoke, "Hey! that's not fair!" emotions in me. Gut reaction. "The 'good' son/workers did the right things, but the bad son/late workers get the rewards too!"
What I forget in these gospels is that Jesus is talking about Heaven-duh Karen! I remember in religion class in the third grade, Sister Raymunda (God rest her soul) explaining to us that if a criminal repented of his sins on his deathbed and converted to Christianity at the moment before he died, all would be forgiven and God would welcome him in Heaven (it was implied that he would probably have to spend some time in Purgatory for his sinful ways, but he wouldn't be going to Hell at any rate...). Of course the sinful person would have to be sincere (But hey! I think God would be able to tell how sincere someone is!!), but s/he'd have the same shot at redemption as the rest of us God-fearing folk.
Is that fair? Sure it is, and as a matter of fact I find it very comforting. Even up to my last minute here on Earth I can sincerely tell God I'm sorry for my sins and God will welcome me. Does that mean I can live a hedonistic life until the minute before I die? No, of course not! If I truly am a Christian I want to live as godly a life as I can out of love for God, but for those workers who arrived late in the day, those brothers and sisters who come to Christ later in their lives, the opportunity is there for them to share God's love in Heaven. What a wonderful, hope message! God isn't out to zing us for our mess ups- God just wants to welcome us into His arms.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Angels
The Church doesn't have clear job descriptions for angels and saints. You can look them up in the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church), but it seems much is left to interpretation. So I'm going to give my own interpretation, not sanctioned by the Roman Catholic church, but, I think, in line with the Church's teachings.
It's pretty much established that angels are messengers of God (think Gabriel), who bring us God's messages which can guide us on the right path if we are willing to accept/listen to those messages and act on them. The angels are whispering in our ears, guiding us, telling us what God wants us to know. Why doesn't God speak to us directly? God does, but we're not always willing to accept His directions, so God may call in a helper, a messenger to repeat the message, or perhaps sometimes the angel is the advance team, preparing us for God's message, "Hey, get ready! Listen up! You're going to receive a message soon..." I don't think angels petition for us as the saints do, and that is a key difference in my interpretation of angels and saints. Angels can also help protect us (think St. Michael the Archangel, or your Guardian Angel). I love the prayer for St. Michael and I know I make my Guardian Angel work overtime (hey, I drive in California!!). The key difference between angels and saints for me is that saints lived on the earth, died, and were canonized while angels didn't go through all that. The CCC says angels are non-corporeal beings- no earthly body. Imagine that your sole existence is to glorify God and bring His message to Earth. That sounds wonderful to me!
It's pretty much established that angels are messengers of God (think Gabriel), who bring us God's messages which can guide us on the right path if we are willing to accept/listen to those messages and act on them. The angels are whispering in our ears, guiding us, telling us what God wants us to know. Why doesn't God speak to us directly? God does, but we're not always willing to accept His directions, so God may call in a helper, a messenger to repeat the message, or perhaps sometimes the angel is the advance team, preparing us for God's message, "Hey, get ready! Listen up! You're going to receive a message soon..." I don't think angels petition for us as the saints do, and that is a key difference in my interpretation of angels and saints. Angels can also help protect us (think St. Michael the Archangel, or your Guardian Angel). I love the prayer for St. Michael and I know I make my Guardian Angel work overtime (hey, I drive in California!!). The key difference between angels and saints for me is that saints lived on the earth, died, and were canonized while angels didn't go through all that. The CCC says angels are non-corporeal beings- no earthly body. Imagine that your sole existence is to glorify God and bring His message to Earth. That sounds wonderful to me!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Hello?
One of my sisters was facing a potential crisis this past week, so I pulled out the big guns and started my two favorite novenas, one to St. Joseph (my favorite saint!) and one to St. Therese of Lisieux. Faithfully I petitioned day after day with no response. No news from my sister, and no rose from St. Therese. I felt as though the saints had turned a deaf ear. Hello? Anybody listening???
I finally heard from my sister, and wouldn't you know it, the silence from the saints wasn't so much of "La, la, la, we're not listening," as it was, "No problem! It's already been taken care of!" So this is my public apology to St. Therese and St. Joseph for doubting that they weren't listening. Even if the answer had been a flat out, "No!" from God- I should know by now (How old am I?? Still learning this stuff!!) that everything will be fine.
I finally heard from my sister, and wouldn't you know it, the silence from the saints wasn't so much of "La, la, la, we're not listening," as it was, "No problem! It's already been taken care of!" So this is my public apology to St. Therese and St. Joseph for doubting that they weren't listening. Even if the answer had been a flat out, "No!" from God- I should know by now (How old am I?? Still learning this stuff!!) that everything will be fine.
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