Don't be frightened, be ready! (Sunday homily)

 When we hear words like these from Jesus, it can be frightening.

We wonder what he is saying, what this is about.

Is he talking about the end of the world? 

Or is he talking about something else?

This Gospel is actually about many things at once.

But at the center, always, is the Cross.

Think of the two thieves. They were the same.

Neither had any worthiness.

One repented and the other rejected.

And that’s the whole story.

If the thought of the end of this life frightens you,

then come stand at the Cross, with repentance and faith, 

and you’re as right as you can be!

How you and I do that is through the sacraments.

Baptism and confirmation, confession and Holy Communion: 

these bring the power of the Cross into our lives, 

and bring us back to the Cross to have God’s abundant grace.

The rest of Jesus’ words are also pretty straightforward.

He’s saying, no matter what happens, 

even if the stars fall from the skies! Jesus is the Rock.

Of course, people want signs. They read books and listen to podcasts, 

they pay out big money for people to give them the “secrets.”

There’s no need for any of that. All you need are the sacraments. 

Come to him with repentance and faith.

I just told you the “secret.” No charge!

Pope Benedict used to explain that when we talk about Jesus’ coming, 

we might do better to call it the completion of his coming.

Jesus isn’t absent. He’s here!

But his presence now is very polite: he’s hidden and, if you will, quiet.

Jesus speaks, but softly. 

He’s not booming out, silencing every other voice, as is his right as King.

At a certain point, time will end. His coming will be complete. 

And then, all will indeed fall silent before Him.

As a boy, I sometimes dreaded Dad coming home. 

Why? You know why: because I’d behaved badly.

But the good news is, Jesus gives us something my Dad couldn’t give us.

We couldn’t talk to him during the day: cell phones didn’t exist!

And my dad probably wouldn’t have wanted us to call him at work.

But our Father in heaven gives you a cell phone:

It’s called confession.

Don’t dread, don’t worry, don’t fear.

Yes, confession can be intimidating.

I don’t like confessing my sins to another priest!

But then, it’s also embarrassing to go to the dentist, 

and he sees that I haven’t been flossing.

I can guess it’s awkward for spouses to face each other 

when one or both has messed up.

But if there is one truth that is universal, 

it is that all humans need to change. 

Not just those other people: you and I need conversion, too.

Second universal truth: changing other people is a mistake!

Me changing me is hard enough: I can’t possibly change others.

But oh, we try and try.

Maybe because we’d rather avoid the hard work of changing ourselves, 

and instead, blame other people for not letting us change them.

The sharpness of these readings is meant like the teacher 

clapping her hands to silence the class, to listen.

Jesus is saying: this part of the story doesn’t go on forever.

Wake up! Be ready!

And right now, and here, everything we need to be ready is offered.

Don’t be afraid; be repentant. Be ready.