There is more to life than what meets the eye. This is a beautiful world, despite all the problems that surface daily. We love the people who journey with us in this life and in this world. We cherish our traditions snd family gatherings, which is why forsaking them during this pandemic is truly a sacrifice for many.
But this world is not the whole reality... it is not the whole picture, but a prelude, an overture to a great symphony that leads us who hear this melody to be carried into a NEW world that completes and extends THIS world which is temporary and transient. Life in this world isn’t even the main Act but the prelude.
Why do we cling to this “prelude” before the main act? Why do we focus on THIS world and hesitate to think about and prepare for the next world? Why????
Because what gives ultimate birth to the main act is death, which we fear so much that we don’t like to think about it.
Jesus reminds those argumentative sadducees, the ones who denied the resurrection of the body and believed that the soul died with the body, that there IS life after death. Eternal Life. Our bodies pass through death and are transformed, not destroyed, destined to reunite with the soul. Easter!! Easter!! Easter!!!
We are an “Easter People” who deeply believe in the God of the Living, who promised through Christ that we, our bodies/souls, will come together in a Union that will never end. We live forever!!!! We WILL see every loved one after death again, never to say goodbye.
In this life, in this world, the Easter symphony begins with the overture. May we listen to the various movements of crescendo, accelerando, ritardando, coloratura, allegro... the many movements of life’s ups and downs... joy and sadness... quickly paced, slowing down, the countless pauses of silence....
The last note of this prelude is death but the symphony moves into a crescendo of Resurrection. God completes the never ending symphony in each human life, gathered together into a harmony that gives eternal birth to the joy and praise we give to the Living God.
Peace,
Advent is quickly approaching, Prepare!!!
Fr. Frank