TGIMMMarch31r

	THIS TIME IS ALL YOU HAVE

The Gospel

MARK 16:9-15

When Jesus had risen from the dead, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either. But later, as the eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to ever creature."

The Media

"K-Pax"

final session

As Prot and Mark interact with each other in the movie “K-Pax”, Prot tells Mark during this final session: “My advice to you: get it right this time around because this time is all you have.” That is to say, we won’t have another chance. The fact is that we may be able to change some of the things that we want to change now, but we will never be able to have the perfect world that we want.

Given the circumstances of our lives, we are called to do the best that we can. We must work with the data of experience that we are given, study the signs of the times, and with prudence, choose to listen to competent people and be guided by the Holy Spirit. We do not know what the circumstances of our lives will be, but we know that we have to face them with the grace of God by doing the best that we can.

The apostles did not know what they would face in the world into which Jesus was sending them. They were simply to “proclaim the gospel,” but that Gospel was a difficult one. It could lead them into situations where they did not want to go. It might even lead them to death.

There will always be situations in our lives that are out of our control, and we cannot do a thing about them. There will always be weaknesses of some sort because we are human beings, and human beings by nature are not perfect. But we have the directive of Jesus that is just as important for the modern Christian as it was for the Apostles. We are to proclaim the Gospel as best as we can, and pray that the Holy Spirit will give us the sufficient grace, and thus, make things perfect even though there is weakness. The Lord made it so with the Apostles; it is our faith that he will make it so with us.

THOUGHT
Describe some situations right now that are out of your control, and ask for the Lord's help to do what you can.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, after your Son rose from the dead, he told us to proclaim His Gospel to the world, but we are weak human beings. Give us the grace to accept your guidance, and to move ourselves to do the best that we can. Be with us, we pray.

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