“Look To The Back Of The Book”

As I woke up today, the sun was shining and I felt pretty good…pretty hopeful. Not a lot has changed… we are still in the midst of a lot of confusion and craziness with the divide in our nation and church, but it’s a beautiful day. 

We’re still praying that the Lord will have mercy on our nation with the election. Our parish had a holy hour last night…people praying …at mass this morning, people are praying… as I talk to friends and family, people are praying. That’s a good thing. Our ultimate hope is in the Lord and not in our political system.

I read a meditation today by Helen Alvare (law professor at Antonin Scalia School of Law) who said, “I try to grasp God’s perspective on time limited, local affairs about which I’m praying, and then to offer my praise, petition, and thanksgiving”. I guess that’s “looking at the big picture”. But she also goes on to say that God also cares about the “little picture” (my phrase) …. “ God cares a great deal about the health, happiness, self-worth, suffering, etc. of every single person”….quoting Pope Benedict VI ,  “give every single person that look of love which they crave”.(ref. today’s gospel about the lost sheep…Luke 15:1-10)

A lot of thoughts are bouncing around my mind today…. from the “big picture to the little picture” and places in-between. A Pentecostal preacher reminds us to “walk with our head in the clouds and our feet on the ground”.

Martin Luther King said it more eloquently…. “evil may so shape events that Caesar will occupy a palace and Christ a cross, but that same Christ will rise up and split history into A.D. and B.C., so that even the life of Caesar must be dated by his name…. yes, ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” In this context, it is clear that bad people often prevail in this carnal world where Caesar still rules. Others have said similar things before and after Dr. King.

Woe, this is getting a little deep. What’s the “bottom line”… or in the words of our friend and resident guru, “Paul, Jr. the Bone Man”, ”what are you talking about”?

Okay, let’s summarize with two points. For the big picture, look to the back of the book (Bible), “Jesus wins”. For the little picture, for the “here and now”, we also look to the book, where the Lord tells us to continue to work, to do our duty, to pray and not lose hope, to love God and our neighbor. “Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. (Mt. 24:46)

And let’s keep smiling … Jesus is Lord … all will be well with our soul.