Hope Big

This past Sunday was the beginning of Advent, the start of our new liturgical year.

Fr. Gene's homily reminded us that it's a time to focus on all facets of Jesus’ coming.

That made me think.

It's not just a time to remember his historic coming 2000 years ago.

It’s a time to appreciate his coming to us every day in the Eucharist, and in other people.

A time to prepare for meeting him at the end of our days.

A time to consider the afterlife.

Many of us are cradle Catholics.

Born into Catholic families.

Even if our family was not the most religious family.

Our families, intentionally or not, passed on some basic Catholic beliefs.

And we went to church; we heard bible stories.

Many of us went to Catholic school.

From our earliest days we were exposed to Catholic teachings.

Others brought up in non-Catholic Christian homes received similar basic teachings.

Still others, brought up in Jewish and Muslim homes, received somewhat similar basic teachings.

There is one God, there is life after death.

Even Hindus and Buddhists and other religions share some basic teachings.

There is a higher power, and there is life after death.

Not all, but most agree on that.

But then there are the atheists and the agnostics.

And others who simply don’t believe there is an afterlife.

Most of us here have believed in an afterlife since we were children.

We may have questioned it.

We can’t fully comprehend it.

We certainly can’t prove it to others.

Sometimes, we might even consider there’s a possibility we could be wrong.

But deep down, we firmly believe it’s true.

That belief is part of who we are—actually a large part.

What must it be like to live without that belief?

To deeply believe that this life is all there is.

Or to allow for only a slight possibility that there might be an afterlife.

I’ve known some very good people who claim to believe there is no afterlife.

People who care deeply for their fellow humans and are committed to helping those in need.

Great humanists.

But greatly missing out on deeper meaning to their lives.

Maybe they’re just afraid to hope big.

Maybe they’re just too wise and learned.

Not fortunate like us who received the revelation when we were more childlike.

When we were, in fact, children.

Maybe the Son has just not yet chosen to reveal it to them.

We, like the apostles are truly blessed; we see and hear what others can only long for.

Where would we be without that gift?

Tuesday, 1st Week of  Advent

Lk 10:21-24      Read this Scripture @usccb.org