Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (November 19, 2006)

Readings Dn 12: 1-3 Ps 16: 5, 8-11 Heb 10: 11-14, 18 Mk 13: 24-32

Suggested Emphasis

"As to the exact day or hour, no one knows it…except the Father."

Salesian Perspective

Scripture is very clear: the world as we know it will pass away. Scripture also makes it very clear that we cannot hope to know "the exact day or hour" that moment will come.

Still, it is only natural that we sometimes become anxious when we imagine that the world as we know it will cease to be. It is even more understandable that we should become anxious when we consider the inevitability of our own personal death. Here, too, however, we do not know "the exact day or hour."

Francis de Sales himself reminds us: "We, in this life, are walking, as it were, on ice."

How should we deal with the reality that, one day, our earthly lives will end?

We deal with an uncertain future by living well now each and every present moment. The present moment is the only time we have at our disposal. The present moment is the only time we have to make choices that either help - or hinder - our efforts at preparing for eternity.

St. Francis de Sales advises us: "Keep your eyes fixed on that blissful day of eternity toward which the course of years bears on us; and these as they pass, they themselves pass by us stage by stage until we reach the end of the road. But meanwhile, in these passing moments there lies enclosed, as in a tiny kernel, the seed of all eternity; and in our humble little works of devotion there lies hidden the prize of everlasting glory, and in the little pains we take to serve God there lies the traces of bliss that can never end." (Stopp, Selected Letters, p. 236)

To the extent that we live each present moment we can experience the gift of peace. "We must in all things and everywhere live peacefully," says St. Francis de Sales. "If trouble, exterior or interior, comes upon us, we must receive it peacefully. If joy comes, we must receive it peacefully, without throbbing of heart. If we must avoid evil, we must do so peacefully, without disquieting ourselves. If there is some good to be done, we must do this peacefully, too."

Place yourself in the hands and heart of Jesus who, St. Francis reminds us, is "the Prince of peace: where you make him your absolute master, all is peace." Place yourself in the hands and heart of Jesus who is the master of each present moment: where you live each present moment, you are best prepared for your last moment.

When we are at peace, when we live intentionally, we can handle everything that life has in store for us: everything, including death itself…a death that leads to eternal life.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is the Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.