Open Your Eyes

 

Last Sunday (November 25, 2019) I went to Mass, despite having a cold or the flu. I still can't decide what I'm sick with. It happened that while the priest was giving the homily, my eyes closed, and almost immediately I heard him say, "I assure you that today you will be with me in paradise." I opened my eyes surprised, but interested in what the priest would say, and he said, "Those are the words we all long to hear." I confess that, as far as I'm concerned, he's right. Who wouldn't want to die in the hope of eternal life? If only we truly knew what we lose each time we sin, each time we deny the Lord, each time we choose evil for good. We need to be humble like the good thief and recognize Jesus as the only king of our lives, the only true God. The priest said that the good thief at the foot of the cross asked for nothing more than to be remembered by Jesus when he came to his kingdom, but not before acknowledging himself as a sinner. It takes humility to recognize that we are not perfect and that Jesus is the only one who can lead us to that heavenly dwelling. I think we must be prepared at all times for the end. Acknowledge our sins, confess them, and declare at all times that Jesus reigns in our lives. Declare this by saying "no" when someone offers us drugs or any other easy escape from reality. Say "no" when we ourselves seek other false "gods" like money or sex, easy ways to get ahead or to create a false sense of self-worth. Recognize and share the gospel with our fellow human beings as the only truth. Always say "yes" to God, a God who, as the Father reminded us, is a king with a crown of thorns and a cross as his throne. He didn't say the latter, but that's how it seems to me. Our King Jesus Christ is the only one who can lead us to the Father. Let us acknowledge him as king of our little universe, and may we hear in that hour when our eyes close in this life and open in eternal life that we will be with him in paradise. Because there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 who don't need to repent. Let's make it a celebration in heaven! Long live Christ the King!