You may have heard the story of the young boy who went to church on Sunday and the priest asked, “How many of you want to go to heaven?” Everybody but a young boy put up his hand. The priest looked at him and asked, “Son, don’t you want to go to heaven?” “Sure”, the boy answered, “but I thought you were gathering a group to go today.”
The truth of the matter is, none of us know when we will be welcomed into heaven. Our recent readings from the Book of Revelations have focused on the end times so that we can be aware and reminded that this time, our time, will come for each of us. Who knows when the Master is coming? Who knows when the end will be? Ironically, the real significance of the end times is in the present. Not knowing when the end will be makes us appreciate each day and keeps us vigilant for its arrival.
At Mass today, and at every liturgy, we hear the words “as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” To prepare for that moment, however, we must be ready each moment. As the liturgical year ends this week and Advent begins, the Church is inviting us once again to examine our lives and to make peace with ourselves, others, and God. This isn’t a time to bluff ourselves; rather, it’s a time to be honest and sincere. It’s a time to ask if we’ve treated our family and others with compassion, understanding, and justice. Who is that person, for instance, who’ll be at our Thanksgiving table whom we should reach out to, or have patience with, or make an effort to include?
There is an ancient monastic custom which many religious Congregations of women and men celebrate at this time each year. It is called “High Chapter”, and we Sisters of Adrian will be celebrating it in early December. It is, in reality, a reconciliation service among ourselves. In other words, we come together in prayer, in person, and now those at a distance on ZOOM, to ask forgiveness from each other for anything we may have done to hurt or disappoint one another. It is an opportunity to be reconciled with one another and deepen the relationships we already have. It is, indeed, a grace-filled experience, and a time to celebrate the Advent season with a renewed and joyful spirit.
As we all take an honest account of our past year in a spiritual way, make sincere amends, and move forward with hope, may we remember the question the priest asked his listeners: “How many of you want to go to heaven?”
