21st Week OT (R)
Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP
St Dominic Priory, NOLA
One
of the symptoms of PTSD is persistent vigilance. Past trauma puts the
body and soul on notice that at any moment something horrible can
happen. Best to stay vigilant and prepared for anything. Over time
the wear and tear of being constantly on alert can lead to psychosis
and even heart failure. So, is Jesus asking us to risk mental
instability and physical illness when he says, “Stay awake!”? No.
Obviously not. But he is asking us to abide deeply and persistently
in our faith. This means – at least – riding the storms of this
world like unsinkable ships, confident that nothing can take us away
from his love. The long pause btw the coming of the H.S. and
Thursday, August 27, 2020 has been and is reason enough for some to
give up waiting on his return, choosing instead to “eat and drink
with drunkards” and beat the Lord's servants. And why not? If the
Master isn't coming back anytime soon, why not abuse power; steal
from the collection plate; step on others, climbing the church's
career ladder; take advantage of the vulnerable sexually; indulge in
a little extortion and blackmail; assist kings and princes in
unraveling the moral fabric of the nation; or even work against the
truth of the Gospel from the pulpit and altar? I mean, it's not like
he's coming back anytime soon, right? Jesus says, “You do not know
on which day your Lord will come.” I don't hear that as a threat or
a promise. Just a statement of fact. We don't know. And knowing that
we don't know is reason enough – or should be – to keep us
faithful. To keep us riding these worldly storms. Cold, wet, scared;
yes – but also absolutely confident that the last victory is his
and ours.
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The wordly storms leave us dumbfounded but I've just read about Laura. Hope you keep safe Fr.
ReplyDeleteMatheus, thank you! The hurricane went well west of NOLA. We barely got some rain. Pray for Lake Charles, LA. They got the worst of it.
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