A pastor once began his homily by announcing, “Everyone in this parish is going to die!” The people shuddered, except for one man in the back who started chuckling. The pastor then repeated, “Everyone in this parish is going to die!” Again the congregation shuddered, but the same man chuckled even louder. The pastor said it a third time and once more the man laughed. Frustrated, the pastor asked the man why he was laughing. “Father,” he said, “I’m not from this parish.” (Story from a homily by Fr. Phil Bloom) 

I think that most of my life, I have been the man laughing in the back of church.  Though I know I am getting older, though I know that I won’t live forever, I presume that there will always be a tomorrow for me.  I presume that morning will dawn for me, and that I’ll have another chance to get it right.  I’ve lived my life with the “Father, I am not from this parish,” mentality.  

So it is not without a little trepidation that I hear today’s readings.  From the immediate response of the people of Nineveh to Jonah’s preaching, to Paul’s direct bow shot: “Brothers and Sisters, time is running out” to the inaugural address of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel:  “Now is the time of fulfillment.  The kingdom of God is at hand!” the message is the same.  It is time to get busy living.  Time to be about what matters and not put it off as tomorrow’s task.  It is time to live as one of those people who always have a clock ticking in the back of their heads – who know exactly what time it is – not because they are running late, but because they are maximizing the time that is available to them.   

Note that Jesus starts his message, not with the repentance invitation, but with the TIME NOTATION:  NOW.  NOW.  ALWAYS NOW is the time of fulfillment.  The kingdom is AT HAND.  Right here and now in the midst of your busy days.  Not when you’ve gotten everything done and finished all the deadline driven projects – but NOW, it is at hand.  Jesus didn’t wait to call his first disciples till the fishing/work day was over and they were off the clock.  Rather, that call came right from the ordinary things they were doing in their ordinary days.  And told them: TODAY!  NOW!  THIS TIME!  THIS PLACE!  This is the moment to be fishers of men.  This is the time when you can experience the kingdom of God.  Act now and quickly, not because you are going to die (though you are) but because when you act, when you leave Father and mother and livelihood behind to follow and serve, you will experience the time of fulfillment.   

Which got me to thinking, maybe we need to redesign our watches and cell phones and clocks.  Instead of having numbers marking the hours of the day, they would have these kind of symbols.  (use hand gestures to put these at the hour times of a clock.)  Kingdom time.  “This Moment.  NOW.  Grace Knocking”  Second Chance.  Completely present.  Fully Awake.  Intentionally Present.  That is the message that begins Jesus’ active ministry.  “Folks, it is not about the past nor the future, but the here and now.  Be awake, be ready.  The kingdom of God is HERE.   

Everyone in this parish is going to die.  That is a fact.  However, I still find myself laughing in the back of church, not because “I am from another parish”, but because I know the secret of time.  Each moment of prayer is a gift.  Each conversation is a blessing.  Each moment of each day, of each hour IS already a living the kingdom kind of moment, that will one day explode into the fullness of that life called eternity.  Till then, the kingdom of God IS at hand.  Here in this Eucharist we receive, here in the lives we break open and share with one another, here in the praise and glory we give to God by our presence – we live already in the eternal life Jesus gives us.      
 
 

Sit for a moment of prayer and then:–  

Today parishioners have an opportunity to sign and send postcards to their U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators. The message on the cards urges our federal elected officials to oppose FOCA and to retain existing laws against government funding and promotion of abortion. If each of us takes a few moments to sign the postcards, together we can send an important message to our nation’s Capitol to uphold the sanctity of human life. Please complete the cards before leaving church today. A small donation of $1.00 will help pay for postage and program materials. Feel free to add a short personal note on each postcard to increase the effectiveness of your message. Thank you for making your voice heard on this important matter