In this month of November, we are reminded often of the end and to keep our lives in order so that at all times we can be ready. We do this in preparation for the end of the Church year and also so we can live the reality of life, that is, that death will come to all. That does not sound super cheery does it to think of your end? It seems like we try hard not to have to face death. We don’t want to see and we want it to be quick and painless. We even want to control when we die but we do not want to face it. As a priest, I have been with quite a few people when they have died. I personally have found it an amazing experience to be present to watch someone breathe and to see that breath slow down. When was the last time you watched someone breathe? Why would you do it in a normal situation; we breathe all the time. It seems boring but when one is dying breath is very important. In life, breathing is super important yet it passes us by. I find when I sit by a death bed I see how many things in life that are simply taken for granted and how many things I make such a big deal out of that are not going to matter. To live like you were dying means to live with the most important things in mind. I love how St. John Paul II deteriorated in the public view and the world was saying, “Get it over with old dude, die,” and he wouldn’t. So then the world said, “If you won’t die, then retire so we don’t have to watch.” He did not do that either. Why? Because he believed that God still had a plan and, in truth, he still had so much to offer even while he suffered and shook and drooled. But Catholics loved him and he gave the world a view of the value of all stages of life.
It is interesting people who are doing nothing and going nowhere are the people that are considered successful. That is like looking at a truck and watching in spin its tires, creating a great smoke show, but the truck is going nowhere and it is wearing out its tires in the pursuit of nothing valuable. I am not sure, but this is whole story, apparently, of the Kardasians, as well as many others in life who are creating entertainment. It is distracting but going nowhere and for no purpose. If we looked at death we would know the value of life and stop taking it for granted, and see that it is just a smoke show. Many saints lived their lives by thinking if something mattered in eternity and set themselves free from useless pursuits which helped them really make their lives count. In the parable today, we have some maids with enough oil and some with not enough. This is what happens when we are focused too much on what doesn’t matter.
In ancient Israel, after the golden calf worship incident, God made animal sacrifices a common part of the worship of God. The calf was a sign of their prosperity; if they had many animals they were rich. So God told them to sacrifice that which they trusted in so they could have freedom because they would then trust in God instead of material things. I think in every age we must look seriously at our idols, the things we trust and honour, often above God. I believe there are many things now that we look to. I would say that time is one of the biggest now. And we are called to sacrifice the idol of time, to smash the golden calf in our lives.
Time is an idol because we think that it is our own, just as we believe we own our breath and most of us do not want to be reminded of what our lives really mean and what the purpose of it is. We avoid looking at death and we end up living for nothing. How can we sacrifice the idol of time? We treat our time as very precious because we live unfulfilled lives and we want to save it for something fulfilling. If we sacrifice our time to God we are saying to God, “You are the fulfillment of my life.” I have noticed in my own life that things advertised are not as fulfilling as they promised and I have noticed that you can easily be miserable in earthly paradise. So what changes if you let God be the one to make you happy? The good things in life are better because you see them as a gift and gratitude makes everything better. So when we sacrifice our idol of time, we say, “God, You make me happy and so I will be happy wherever I am.” In going to Mass, we sacrifice the idol of time and give God the first pick of our day. By praying at certain times, we make God the guardian of our success. By praying when it is inconvenient, we say, “God, You are the one who makes the difference.” The adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is another way we can sacrifice our precious time. It seems like a waste of time but where else can you sit in the presence of someone who absolutely loves you and wants to fill you with good and holy things? We waste time trying to be happy and full when it is easily given, just waiting on God and receiving it. This is where we get more oil to sustain us in life while waiting for the bridegroom.
Time is a very subtle idol. Of course, we need money and it is a good thing and a duty, if you are able, to use your time to support yourself and your family, however, we must still put the ultimate trust in God. Many people tell me, “God helps those who help themselves,” and I guess it is sort of true because God works with us, but if it was always true then blessed are the bank robbers. If we want to really have good security, we must find a way to trust in God, to make a sacrifice of our material security. One way is not to work on Sunday unless your job is one of those emergency ones or I guess priesthood, or a type of farming. You may have to really make an effort to set the day aside for the Lord, a whole day to say, “Thank you, Lord, you are my salvation. You are the one who created me and my happiness comes from you.” The more we move away from Sunday as a holy day to just another day to do work and make money, the more we become like a beast. Man was created on the same day as the beasts but, unlike the beasts, he was made for the seventh day in order to remember his dignity, that he was made in the image and likeness of God. Losing that Sunday means losing your dignity. Can you have fun on Sunday? Yes, you can, but don’t forget what it is for – to worship and thank God and through our time with Him discover your true value and make yourself ready for the most important things in life.