HOMILY REV. JAMES L. NADEAU, PASTOR 33rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – 11/15/2020
I. A man with some serious health conditions was at the doctor’s office with his wife. When the doctor was alone with the wife, he told her, “It’s serious, but he could live a long time if you help him.”
“Of course,” the wife replied. “What can I do?”
Dr. replied, “Don’t let him do any outside work. In fact, nothing around the house. Let him sleep in, cook whatever he wants, don’t nag him, don’t ever yell, and let him have the TV remote control all the time.”
Man to Wife, “What did the doctor say?”
Wife to Man, “You are going to die . . . (very soon!)”
II. St. Paul tells us – there will be an end for all of us – it will come like a thief in the night. Each year we have this reading to remind us that vigilance is necessary and that being in a ready state is not optional for the faithful Christian.
III. While we live in constant vigilance – we much focus on the NOW – aware - as the Gospel reading tells us - to use our gifts and talents to give glory to God, The Master. This is our task to transform the world by transforming men and women. Every part of history requires a new effort, a different emphasis.
Once again, the Church finds herself in a situation where she can win back larges numbers of souls for Christ. Where she can repossess everything worth saving – everything good and true – as she did before. We can use all the advances of civilization as instruments of salvation in the service of God and of souls . . .