Wednesday, October 21, 2020

 
ALREADY AND   NOT YET
 

 INTRODUCTION
 
The title of my homily  for this 29th Wednesday in Ordinary Time  is, “Already and Not Yet.”
 
I remember hearing the slogan or bumper sticker type message: “Already and Not Yet” – a bunch of years ago. I don’t remember doing much or enough thinking on just what they meant.  I got glimpses – but not enough.
 
I don’t remember preaching a sermon on that topic or theme.
 
TODAY’S READINGS
 
Today’s readings triggered this theme.
 
The gospel – Luke 12: 39-48 - talks about the not yet – the waiting – an advent theme as well as an end of the world or Second Coming theme. And the first reading – Ephesians 3:  2 -12 is filled with the already – the mystery of Christ is already unfolding in our midst. We are coheirs with Paul – with the Gentiles – copartners in the promise of Christ.
 
Paul tells us here in Ephesians we have already received this grace.
 
We have been given the inscrutable riches of Christ.
 
The light has been turned on to us.  We see because of the light.
 
GLIMPSES
 
Next – a question hit me.
 
Come up with an image – that would clarify – give me a glimpse of the already and the not yet.
 
I do poetry – so I figured I should or could come up with an image and a glimpse of these 2 realities – the already and the not yet.
 
How about a person going to a car dealer to get a new car?  I don’t know if they still do it this way. A person looks at different cars – likes one – and the dealer hands the possible buyer the keys and they go for a drive.  I would think that’s an already and a not yet experience.
 
7 kids are in the dining room – friends of Joey – who’s celebrating his 6th birthday. Mrs. Joey’s mom walks in with the birthday cake – 6 candles – lit. 14 eyes are on the cake. Their tummies and their taste buds are already tasting their piece – and they have not yet had a plate with a big piece of triple layered cake on it yet.
 
One more example. In my last assignment – St. Mary’s Parish, Annapolis, Maryland, I had a lot of weddings. I heard many times – at wedding times – brides started looking forward to their wedding – picturing it – imagining it – as well as their moms – for their first daughter to get married. Those dreams – triggered by movies – friend’s weddings – being in wedding parties – or maid of honor – have been fermenting all their lives.
 
CONCLUSION
 
The title of my homily was, “Already and Not Yet.”
 
Paul in Ephesians calls his already – the why of his being called -  a grace given to him, the least of the holy ones. He had a taste of Jesus in the here and now – while alive.
 
Today’s gospel was all about the not yet – and the message is to be ready for the yet when it comes. I don’t picture God beating us – but I do picture each of us beating ourselves if we get lazy and don’t prepare for the Master when he comes   when we least expect.

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