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	A LOOK AT MYSELF

The Gospel

MARK 13:33-37

Jesus said: “Be constantly on the watch! Stay awake! You do not know when the appointed time will come. … Look around you! You do not know when the master of the house is coming. … Do not let him come suddenly and catch you asleep. What I say to you, I say to all: Be on guard!”

The Media

"How Far We've Come"

Matchbox Twenty

"Waking up at the start of the end of the world, but it’s feeling just like every morning before; now, I wonder what my life is going to mean if it’s gone. The cars are moving like a half a mile an hour if that; I started staring at the passengers waving goodbye. Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time? But I believe the world is burning to the ground; oh well, I guess we’re gonna find out. Let’s see how far we’ve come. Oh well, I guess we’re gonna pretend. Let’s see how far we’ve come. I sat down on the street and took a look at myself."

Both the music group Matchbox Twenty in their song "How Far We've Come" and Jesus Christ express words of warning to a complacent world. It seems that society is simply going about its business day after day, working, entertaining, enjoying itself, without addressing the truly important things in life. In particular, people are not looking closely at themselves and they do not seem to think of the need that we all have to prepare for death.

The song is saying that we have to study what we are doing because the world or our lives could be ending at any moment. If we are to discern whether we are doing the right thing or not, we have to take some time with ourselves, asking ourselves difficult questions, questions that only we can answer, questions maybe that we have never asked ourselves. They include questions about our motivation—why are we doing the things that we are doing, what our intentions are. They are questions about our past actions and words—what was I thinking when I did this or what were my words and why did I say them. Most of all, they include questions of conscience—am I doing what is right, am I saying what is right, indeed, am I thinking what is right.

Such an exercise takes time and energy. But if we are serious about who we are and what we are doing, we will spend such time and energy. That is, as Matchbox Twenty sings, we will sit down and take a look at ourselves. If we manage to do it, we will accomplish what Jesus wanted to do with his warnings about the end of the world: we will think seriously about ourselves. The Christian believes that life only begins here on earth, and what happens afterwards largely depends on how we are behaving right now. If our behavior follows the ideals of Jesus Christ, we have no need to worry about the life that is yet to come.

THOUGHT

What are some behavior patterns that the people of our world should change right now?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we have reason to fear death only if we act like it will never come. Help us think seriously about our lives right now, changing what needs to be changed, strengthening what should be strengthened. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike