| Homily
for the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time: November 19, 2006
Given by the Most
Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation
in Stockton.
Next month I will be sixty five years of age,
and I think most people around this age, including myself,
begin to wonder how many years might lie ahead. Today’s
gospel certainly makes us stop and think. There will be that
moment when Christ comes to judge the living and the dead.
We will have to render an account for our lives. The prophet
Daniel spoke about this moment of accountability. “The
wise shall shine brightly” and “those who lead
the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”
There is a very early Christian document by an unknown author
which says “Let us live loving and upright lives, in
hourly expectation of the kingdom of God, since we do not
know when God will come. . . . All that each man has done,
whether openly or in secret, will then be brought to light.”
How important it is for us to persevere in faith and seek
to live virtuous lives.
We all know that we sin, but we must never lose
heart. Jesus the great high priest has offered the one great
sacrifice that takes away our sins. We are redeemed; we are
forgiven. What a great inducement to amend our lives daily
and not to lose confidence. Even though we are forgiven, we
still need to atone for our sins, to make reparation, to repair
the damage sin does. Again this second century document says
that “a very good way of atoning for our sins is by
being generous to the poor….for love covers a multitude
of sins.”
As we approach the end of the Church year
which comes next Sunday with the feast of Christ the King
and as we enter into Advent, we take stock of our lives and
ask for the grace to persevere in fidelity to Christ and to
grow in virtue. As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our family
and friends we can be grateful to God for the gift of life
which we desire to live to the fullest for the glory of God.
Last Update November 20, 2006
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