Saint Paul sets up a clear dichotomy between two groups of people, much like Jesus does in the Gospel as He references “…the children of this world being more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of the light.”
As I thought about Jesus’ observation and the steward in the Gospel who finds a way to survive after he’d lost his job for poor performance, it reminded me of how we all discover at some point the ways of the world.
Learning About the World
Earlier this week, I was telling a story of how when I was in high school, I learned that sometimes it’s who you know that determines whether you get a job. For me, it was when I had filled out an application at Fenway Park to work selling soda and ice cream in the stands at Sox games.
The manager unenthusiastically took my application and said we’ll call you if we hire you…and then as I was walking out the door he called me back and asked about my soccer jacket and whether I knew Tom White, I told him he was my soccer coach and then the same manager told me I had the job. Coach White and my new boss just happened to be teammates on the same softball team.
Living as Children of Light
Every one of us lives in this world and needs to understand how things work but above all to know that our foundation and calling is to be children of the light. But what exactly does that mean and how do we manage it?
Well, Saint Paul helps us by comparing two categories of people with different attributes. In true Pauline fashion he leaves no doubt by calling the first that has brought him to tears as enemies of the cross of Christ.
These people have chosen the cravings of their stomach, their own popularity and self-achievement over God’s ways and to sum it up their greatest goals and thus their minds are focused upon earthly things.
Citizens of Heaven
It’s so tempting once we see how things work with the who you know or other ways of getting what we want, but the teaching of Saint Paul helps us stay grounded, where he reminds us that our “citizenship is in heaven.” Now don’t try that on your driver’s license or passport, but at the same time, let’s not forget who God is as our creator and redeemer, the one who gives and sustains our lives each day and the one who has redeemed us.
It is this belief that allows Saint Paul to believe and teach that it is Jesus that we keep watch for: our Lord and Savior “….who will change our lowly bodies to conform to his glorified body…”
Conformed to Christ
That is the difference between the children of the world and the children of the light, that despite our need to learn a skill, work, find a place to live, for many build a family and development friendships that the children of the light have as their number one goal to be conformed to the life of Jesus.
May God bless you and your families as we stand firm in the faith as children of the light; rooted in Christ!
- Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
