Homily, November 19, 2023

Homily

November 19, 2023

Travel lightly, my soul, through this world.

Carry only what’s truly needed, there’s no need to carry more, and what weighs you down only burdens the journey.

Travel lightly, my soul through this world.

Each thing you own will, in time, own you in return and precious moments will be spent being the servant of what you think you need instead of what you must truly possess.

Travel lightly, my soul, through this world.

How many have pierced themselves through with sorrows, working day and night for that which cannot, and will not, endure. Finding this to be true how great will be the remorse of one who’s given everything for nothing, the gain of the world for the loss of the eternal.

Travel lightly, my soul, through this world.

The goods of these days, at best, are a shadow of that time which is to come. Yet even that good can be twisted, an end to itself. Such things are like a well with water enough for only a day, empty when the next morning comes and thirst returns.

Travel lightly my soul, through this world.

Those who can give you what your temporary wishes crave also have power over you. They can make you work when you should rest. They can send you on a mad chase even as the heavenly path beckons. They hold out their hands to you but, far from generosity, it is the bait on a hook. They will make gods of themselves and you their worshippers and vassals. Promising happiness with a few keystrokes, the TV is their evangelist and the sweat of your brow the penance that always and inevitably manifests itself.

Travel lightly my soul, through this world.

You say you’ll build bigger and better and more to hold that which could never ultimately belong to you and yet, in death, everything will disappear, given to others or back to the Earth. Even your body will return to the elements from which it came, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Travel lightly my soul, through this world.

Everything here can be taken away because the powerful feed on the weak, the rich on the poor, the healthy on the sick, and the mad on the sane. Yet if there’s no excess to take, no desires to compromise, there is little to fear from their presumption of power. A sparrow, trusting God for its sustenance, is seldom the prey of eagles.

Travel lightly my soul, through this world.

There’s a freedom in simplicity and peace in becoming uncomplicated. The beauty that remains in this world, despite our sin, is seldom appreciated by those too busy trying to shelter their hoard. Too late we see beauty from our cubicle, grace in endless hours of work.  What does it matter if we have a beautiful house full of cars and furniture but empty of love? We were designed to be so much more than consumers destined to spend life only buying, selling, and then dying. Mindless accumulation is the death of all that’s most properly human.

Travel lightly my soul, through this world.

God knows your needs, food, clothing, shelter, sustenance of body and soul. In both your trust of this and due diligence the primal anxieties of our time will start to fade away. Anxiety is the marker of a godless age and how anxious we are in these days. The holiest of us, the Saints, walked gently on the Earth because they gave their cares to God, acted in that understanding, and showed us the path of contentment even in the valley of the shadow of death.  The soul bound to this earth alone becomes unsettled but the on that lives in the light of eternity knows rest.

Travel lightly my soul, through this world.

The chains with which you may have bound yourself are unnatural and unnecessary. You were designed to be transfigured, to shine with God’s grace, to live as immortal in the midst of mortality and timelessness in the middle of history. If your treasure is where your heart is, place your heart in God and everything given to you will be yours forever, everything you share will be held securely beyond the reach of moth and rust, and you’ll find the authentic wealth that even those with money may have yet to discover.

Travel lightly my soul, through this world and you will find your rest.