ALREADY AND NOT
YET
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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