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Psalm Reflection: The Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

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Psalm Reflection: The Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

"Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full." - Psalm 17

I can tell how my kids have been behaving the moment I walk through the front door. When they shout “daddy!” and run up to give me a hug, my heart swells with joy and I know things have been going pretty well. When they are hesitant to say hello or come greet me, that means they really do not want me to find out what they did.

Imagine that Jesus is coming to see you in 30 seconds, no other warning or time to prepare. He is going to be right in front of you, as you are, to be with you. What is your initial reaction?

If we start to feel anxious and worried about not being ready, that is a good sign that there are probably things going on in our lives that we need to change or attend to. 

Have I been neglecting prayer or the commitments I have made to God as His disciple?

Have I neglected the spiritual or physical needs of others I know or those in my community that I am equipped to help?

Do I need to turn away from sin and go to confession to be reconciled to God?

Do I need to forgive someone or ask for forgiveness for hurt that I have caused?

Are there things I have left unsaid or unthanked?

As the Psalmist this week reminds us, our response to God coming in His glory should be joy. 

Yes, you read that right. When Jesus returns at the end of time, the world will end. When all of us are brought before God for judgment, we should be filled with joy! Why? Because Heaven awaits us. Heaven is eternal union with God and it is the fulfillment of the Christian life. If we do not feel joy at that thought, then we need to be honest about our attachments to earthly things, or we need to acknowledge that we are living in sin and it is separating us from the joyful, abundant life God has promised us. If we are not ready for Heaven, then we have accepted the other option by default, and we need to do something about it.

Because guess what? 

Jesus is not coming in 30 seconds. He is already here.

He is already with you.

He already sees all you do.

He knows all of your thoughts.

Nothing is hidden from Him.

He is constantly inviting you into a life of joy.

What is standing in your way?

This week, reflect on that question and do something to remedy it. 

Go to confession.

Pray every day.

Make time for a holy hour this week.

Schedule a time to go on retreat or meet with a spiritual director.

Prioritize your own healing by finally going to therapy.

Get to Mass.

Spend quality time with those you love.

Take time enjoying the things you are passionate about that give you life.

Say no to anything and everything else you are able to say no to that gets in the way of these things happening consistently in your life. 

If you do that, joy will abound and Heaven will be that much closer.

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt

MANNA is a ministry creating blogs and podcasts to encourage and inspire others to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ and live out their Catholic faith.