What are the Signs of the Times and where do we find the Answers?
Do you ever feel that you’re out of control? Do you look for a time when things seem to work for the good of all? If you’ve answered in the affirmative than you are not alone. From our youngest to our very selves, once we get the courage to leave the house in the morning, it seems we become easy targets for the out of control merry-go-round we seem to be on. Think about it: The one who cuts us off on the way to work or dropping the kids off; the peer or friend who takes advantage of us; the insensitive remark made at school; the forgotten thank you when you get gas or grocery shop; the sports coach who is very sincere, but forgets who the parent is and begins to alienate the real parent. The incredible terrorist attacks in our country and throughout the world. The hidden expectations of those for whom we work for and those who would like to make us over. You can personalize your own list. For all these and more can certainly interfere with a healthy attitude about the day and about our lives. Perhaps we take these things much too calmly and maybe we take this kind of open acceptance and carry it into other arena’s of life. Depression, isolation, loneliness, physical and chemical abuse are real and often go unnoticed. We cannot afford to accept this as ‘Norm”. But, because we at times do not know any different way of living or thinking, the assumption is that this is a correct life-style.
What does this have to do with us? What is a Christian to do today? If we truly believe that we are a Christian Community committed to the ideals of this Risen Jesus, then we must commit ourselves to bringing those ideals to fruition by investing our lives in a community and trying to make things different. Speaking out and not accepting what is told to us; by challenging an apathetic attitude and not standing on the outside looking in. You and I are responsible for bringing back a sense of wholeness and integrity to our society, our family and our community. We must be a contradiction to what seems to be the norm in the world - no matter what the cost. We must come to see ourselves as the Lord sees us: signs of hope and faith. All too often our young people cave in because they do not see any sign of hope or faith. No sign of real joy and wholeness. Much too often, we are so caught up in trying to do everything we miss any sign of life around us. We feel nothing happening to us accept anger and frustration. And from the standpoint that we think we are alone, we then begin to act out our loneliness and look for any means of acceptance.
My brothers and sisters, we must experience deeply what it means to recognize what is right and what is unhealthy in our world. The Lord challenges us today to accept Him. He doesn’t coerce - but challenges us to accept Him as He accepts us – just as we are. He asks our permission to allow Him to nourish us at Eucharist and then expects us to feed one another - to stand next to one another as a leaven of hope and sign of joy. Our world needs that kind of nourishment more than ever before.
Yes, we are the Church. Christ is alive in each one of us. Believe it! Even in our brokenness and lack of faith He is alive. I want to impress on you the importance of what we are here at St. Luke as a sign of the times and also a sign of hope. No matter how difficult it gets - we must try to be there for each other. We try and do that well - sometimes we succeed and sometimes we do not. But this Christian comes alive best when we can see each other at the Sunday celebration of Eucharist. I urge you to accept the challenge of Jesus to recognize Him in the breaking of the bread each week.
Father Mike
Pastor
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