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How Tied Are We to this Life?
Devotional Thought of the Day:
21 For what is life? To me, it is Christ. Death, then, will bring more. 22 But if by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. 23 I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; 24 but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive. 25 I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that when I am with you again, you will have even more reason to be proud of me in your life in union with Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:21-26 (TEV)
11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. Revelation 12:11 (TEV)
881 Non habemus hic manentem civitatem—our definitive home is not to be found on this earth. And so that we don’t forget it, at the hour of death this truth appears crudely at times, in lack of understanding, say, or in persecution or in being despised. But there is always a sense of loneliness, for even though we may be surrounded by affection, every person dies alone. Now is the time to untie all the bonds that bind us! Let us prepare ourselves at all times for that step which will bring us into the eternal presence of the Most Holy Trinity. (1)
In two weeks, we start a new sermon series here at Concordia.
it’s about our journey to heaven, and the conversations we have, as we travel there, led by Christ, driven by the Holy Spirit.
Today’s readings in my devotional time made me think of the title. “Are we there yet??? And other backseat conversations on the way to Heaven”
Paul is impatient to get home, to be done with the journey. To find what the sabbath, what church, what the sacraments point to it being. To see clearly what we can only get passing glimpses of, but ohhhh.. are those glances incredible. Paul, who had given up so much, now seeks to give up all. As does Josemaria Escriva – reminding us that this isn’t our home, that this isn’t the place to which we are bound, to which we have unbreakable ties. As did the martyrs of Revelation, those who didn’t love life more than the One who they shared with each other.
On one hand, there is a longing to go home and rest in the glory of God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. One another, we know the work we can do here, the real wor, makes a difference in the life (both eternal and temporal) of people here. We help them know the peace that comes from knowing where our desitination is in Christ.
And so we work, aware of our own weaknesses, aware of His presence, aware of His love.
Ready to share that with those around us, ready to explain why we have hope in this life and for the next. As we sing in our Memorial Acclimation:
“Christ has died, Christ is Risen! Christ will come again!
We were dead in our sins, now we’re buried with Him, We are Risen with Christ! We are Given new Life! Christ will bring us home, making us His own!
Christ has died, Christ is Risen! Christ will come again!” (2)
So remember as you struggle through this day… this is just the journey home. And keep your eyes our Christ, who began this journey, and will bring it to completion.
AMEN!
(1) Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). Furrow (Kindle Locations 3602-3607). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
(2) From the Memorial Acclimation (Chris Gillette Worship Band Liturgy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSOPkjcqfF4
Anxious About the Future? Don’t Know Every Detail? That’s Good!
Discussion and Devotional Thought of the Day:
24 The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Proverbs 20:24 (NLT)
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Psalm 23:1-3 (NLT)
I talked to you about the horizon which opens up before our eyes and of the road we have to follow. I have no objections, you said, as if surprised at not having any. Engrave this deeply on your mind: there is no reason why there should be!! (1)
Picture a couple in love, walking through a park together, enjoying each other. They might laugh at that squirrel, or be amazed at the flowers and the beauty of the water which sings in the creek, as it too travels to the pond on the other side of the park. The might even forget where they are, as they enjoy each other, as they learn about each other, as they share in the love they have. They live in the moment. There is a growing trust, growing discovery and revelation of life.
And they know the destination when they get there…. as the sit on the rock, as the young man asks the question that they both know is coming…..will you share my life, will you let me share yours?
Unsure of the future? They aren’t even looking past this moment. The joy of each other’s presence is too overwhelming
God knows the future, much more than the young man and woman. He directs the steps, knowing the beauty we will encounter, and the times when we will stumble. We walk with Him, our Shepherd,
Yes, we inherently trust Him for our salvation, but what we are saved to is a life, a relationship where that trust infects every other part of our life. As He reveals Himself, as we explore and know the height, depth, width and breadth of God’s love for us in Christ,
That means we aren’t going to know every step, we won’t understand this time or that, We may not want to take the time to rest and pause, we want to fight for control. We can’t know all the details, any more than the prophets or apostles did. We need to grow to where we don’t raise objections to the horizon, we need to accept the road, not because it is the road….
But because we trust the Shepherd who will lead us along the right roads, who walks with us.
How do we do this?
Spend time with Him, realize His presence, meditate on and rejoice in the promises that are sure in Christ……
It’s not about having every detail planned out, about preparing for every contingency, this life of those baptized and who walk with Christ.
It’s like the journey along the paths of the park- where a young couple are amazed at the love, at the growing bond between them. Where they realize their long for love is there. It’s like that, as we, the bride of Christ, walk with Him.
So enjoy, as the beauty of His creation unfolds before you!
(1) Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). Furrow (Kindle Locations 2399-2402). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
