“Extrapolate At Your Own Risk”

I can be an “extrapolator”. I can tend to take the present moment and extrapolate it into the future. “Well we’ve had sunny weather the last several days, so I think the future is bright…more sunshine and blue skies…. I’m getting out my swimming suit and tennis racket.” It doesn’t end with the weather, it can go to the Giants and Cardinals being in last place for the next 50 years based on last year’s performance. It can even find itself in life itself.

We recently read from the Acts of the Apostles that after some initial trials and persecution, “the church of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers”. (Acts. 9:26-31) If I had been around at that time, I would have extrapolated that “moment” into the future. “Well, it’s about time…sure it was a rough start, but things have changed and now we can enjoy the fruits of our labor; Christianity is being established and we can walk in the consolation of the Holy Spirit.” Hmmmmmm, not so quick.

There’s something in all of us that is longing for peace, heavenly peace…. for the time when all strife will finally be at an end… when evil will finally be defeated, once and for all. Yet, the church has been at war since Jesus rose from the dead. While the war has been won, battles still rage for the sons of man. There’s not one saint in the past 2,000 years who has not had to embrace this fight, who has lived without enduring the cross. 

Something in me wants life without the cross, life without pain and suffering and disappointment. We know that while Paul enjoyed a few weeks at peace, he lived most of his Christian life carrying a very heavy cross with much suffering. So too for us; we can have deep peace in our soul, but our life will entail suffering. Christ gives us the grace to endure this suffering, but it will still be with us… some from the outside and some within our very soul. 

But the good news is that the Holy Spirit is with us, to help us. He will not abandon us in the fight. His presence makes all the difference. And as this life marches on, we are drawing closer to our heavenly home, where the peace will be perfect and unending, and the consolation of the Holy Spirit will be complete. 

So, let’s tuck in our shirt and straighten our tie and get ready to stand in the fight along with our Lord. If Christ is with us, all will be well. I’d rather be with our dear Lord in the midst of a battle than alone in some “make believe happy place” without our dear Savior. And that is Good News.