The FOUR LAST THINGS: Prepared for Friends of Catholic Family Podcast

I don’t want to end the year on a heavy-duty note. But I’ve prepared an end-of-year reflection for my own website (www.deacontomonline.com) and it was done for use on December 29th 2008. And I used the Mass readings of that day and I think they lead us to a proper (although some might say a not so super upbeat) topic for the end of the year or the beginning of a new one. But, I invite you to think with me for a bit.

These words contained in the Gospel for December 29th are the same words mentioned in the past Sunday’s Gospel: “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled; my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” The words of Simeon – the gift given to him: a vision of the Holy One with whom he, Simeon would spend eternity.

And yet – we humans must pass through death to gain access to what God has ready for us. This leads to the theology of the four last things: death, judgment, heaven and hell. A preacher shouldn’t need to spend much time on death because it is about the only unarguable, permanent, proof-positive fact that everyone in the world agrees upon. Yes, Virginia there is a reality called death. For most of us, death will be a liberation from some amount of suffering in our lives (JPII). Death is the ultimate surrender from which none of us can escape. And so, according to the words of the Lord God, pronounced after the sin committed by man at the beginning of his earthly history: “You are dust and to dust you shall return.”

Have you ever been around anyone who has had a near-death experience? Father Dwight Long told a story of his grandfather who was run over by a car… the grandfather saved two of grandsons from harm – but the man himself was crushed… and his internal organs were so damaged that it was impossible to surgically repair him…. And he died. His wife was with him at his hospital bed – and just moments before he died – he came back to consciousness and he looked up to the corner of the ceiling. He said, “Can you see them Esther? They are so beautiful.”

Many of us have heard such stories – people gifted with a vision of what it’s like on the other side… they are given a glimpse of who is waiting for them… or there is an inviting white light… These stories give us comfort – and for some, they may give faith or hope of a better world to come. And what we need to take into our inner belief – what we need to accept and prepare for (by the lives we live) is that heaven is more real – totally real more than anything else we know of here on earth. In fact everything here isn’t real – if by real we mean permanent.

There are enough Biblical and other stories to remind us that heaven is real… and not just from anecdotes. St. Therese, the Little Flower spoke of a vision of heaven where, in heaven, each piece of dust is a jewel. Other holy ones gifted with heavenly or beatific visions have had their lives radically changed. St. Paul was one of them and he tells us that no eye has yet seen what God has ready for those who love Him. And C. S. Lewis in his book The Great Divorce, wrote of souls given a day pass from Purgatory and allowed to visit Heaven. And when they get there – they find they can’t walk on the grass because each blade of grass is like a tiny sword… cutting their feet. It is so much more real than anything experienced in our human life.

And so most Christians will believe or hope — taking comfort that there is a ‘goodness’ waiting for us on the other side. But many ‘believers’ don’t see or can’t accept the reality of judgment… and all-too-many have given up belief in hell. A good God wouldn’t condemn anyone to hell they say. Even some clergy give in and preach such a corrupted gospel.

It is beyond the scope of a short reflection such as this to expound on judgment and hell. I refer you to the Catholic Catechism for a scripturally based teaching on these matters. What is interesting is that there are countless examples of natural laws that no one will ignore or dispute… the law of gravity is but one example. You may dispute that a Good God would create a world in which someone could be killed for ignoring a law of gravity – and if that person wishes to test that law – he’d best be prepared for a smashing demonstration of the permanence of the effect of gravity – and he’d best be prepared for meeting his maker.

It takes no great leap of wisdom to believe that there are moral laws which are as absolute and which have consequences… and if (finally) – one comes to accept the truth of these absolutes, then to keep violating moral laws and expecting God’s eternal forbearance is not a wise position to assume.

In our parish – a few of us will be in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament on New Year’s Eve from 11pm till midnight – welcoming in 2009 in a quiet and peaceful manner. I, for one will spend some time considering these matters. I hope you will do so as well. So – as I prepare this last reflection for 2008 – or thoughts to take into 2009 – I recommend that each of us could spend time meditating upon the realities of
-death
-judgment
-heaven and
-hell.

Thank you David and Allyson for the gift of your faith, your witness, your friendship and your family. May God bless you and the children and all of your worldwide Catholic Family.

Deacon Tom

www.catholicmoments.com

www.catholicmom.com

Although my wife and I are now in Arizona – we used to live in Colorado and I received deacon formation at the John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization in Denver. In the campus chapel was this picture of Our Lady of the New Advent – Jesus blessing us from inside the icon image of His Mother Mary. This picture was in the sanctuary and it spoke so much of what we believe as Catholics – that Mary is the reason for the season of Advent because it is she that helps bring about the Father’s will. It is Mary who holds Christ as does a tabernacle. So, this is another way of saying, “Mary is the reason for the season.”

So if I put together a column about what Catholic families might do for Advent – one first statement of focus would be on Mary.  Last year at this time, I wrote a Catholic Family (Podcast) column on Las Posadas.
I’d like to repeat a bit of Las Posadas here again. Note in the explanation that the first name mentioned is Mary. You, dear Catholic parents can accomplish wonderful formation for your children if you let the ‘Spirit’ of the Advent season come alive in your hearts and in your home.

There is a tradition in Mexico called Las Posadas. There can be variations on how it is done – but the most common begins nine days before Christmas. These nine days symbolize the time it took for Mary and Joseph to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. For each of the nine days, the experience of Mary and Joseph looking for lodging at the inns of Bethlehem is reenacted. Participants are divided into two groups which are the ‘pilgrims’ and the ‘innkeepers.’ Pilgrims go from ‘house to house’ (or room to room in your home) carrying lit candles (or flashlights if that’s safer) and singing requests and looking for a room for the Holy Family. This can be done with your own musical ‘creation’ or I’m sure you can find words of a song that begs to be let in and given a room for shelter. At every inn or house the innkeepers refuse the pilgrims.  “No – no go away, into the night for we have no room for you at this inn!” This can be done dramatically or it can be done in song…. On Christmas Eve, the pilgrims are welcomed in at last. They enter and everyone joins in singing a joyful carol. Children and many adults love this festive teaching idea. Children are great at enacting what is part of our Biblical understanding of Christ being shut out. And it often forms a tradition that will endure for years and years – perhaps into generations in families.

Dad can be in one room and speak gruffly: “Go away, you have no money and there is no room here.”
Mom can be in another room as she sweetly sings ‘go away because it is too late and I can’t open the door.’ You can write your own songs or script as you wish. You and your children could act this out once a week – Sundays for example. There should always be an expectant Mary and husband Joseph in this play. In a small family, mom and dad could be the Holy Family and the kids could be the innkeepers.

Okay – some might say, “Well that’s fine and well for some families; our kids are too young or that wouldn’t go for that.” While I really wish you’d give it a try – how about a once-a-week family rosary saying the Joyful Mysteries together? You could write little plays – the Angel Gabriel coming to visit Mary and telling her she’s going to be the Mother of God. Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth; Elizabeth saying that she recognizes that Mary is going to be the Mother of the Savior. The birth of Christ with wise men and cattle coming to adore Him. Jesus being lost. Ooh – isn’t this scary? You could add lots of drama in this Mystery. But always, returning to pray the Our Father and the ten Hail Mary’s.

Finally – and this is so simple. Instead of setting up your complete Nativity set, here’s what some Catholic families do. Put the manger scene under the tree for Advent – except it should be without the Holy Family – obviously without Jesus present. Each Sunday – have a little Advent ceremony consisting of the following. Pick out an Advent song (O Come O Come Emmanuel, Ready the Way, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, etc.). Sing the song as you and the children light the next Advent candle. And as this is done, let one of the family members ‘move’ Mary (on a donkey) and Joseph closer to the Christmas tree.
Children love this visualization – an easy teaching method that Mary brings Christ to help make Christmas Day. And of course, on Christmas Day, before gifts are opened – Baby Jesus is placed in the manger with a little ceremony.

Jesus came to be the Christmas gift – Jesus gave Himself to the entire world. Your Advent practice might consist of some aspects of giving that involve your family. When Mary became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit – the first thing she did was an act of charity! Mary went to visit her cousin. We know there are many seasonal programs… Coats for Kids, Christmas Giving Trees… If your children are old enough to help make cookies – don’t forget folks in a nursing home or a lonely widow down the street. If your church or community offers a Nativity Play – make sure to involve the kids or at least attend the play. In all of these, Mary, the Mother of Christ is the reason for the (Advent) Season. I hope your children hear this message.

And – may Christ come once again into your heart and into your home. An Advent spent with focus on Mary will most certainly prepare you for a truly Merry and blessed Christmas.

Blessings. Deacon Tom
www.deacontomonline.com
http://catholicmoments.com
http://catholicmom.com