Counting Our Days

Autumn is upon us. Earth’s invitation is to harvest the final fruits of summer’s bounty, give thanks, and then let go into the mystery of dying. We are invited to take stock of our lives. What are our priorities? What of our bounty might we be called to share? How does the mystery of death inform our living?

 

As I write, my heart is sad with the death of a friend and filled with gratitude for the life she shared. Her memorial service last weekend made clear that we have reason to grieve loss but also to celebrate the eternal life of love which forever seeds, grows us, and gives. My friend’s deep faith and loving actions will continue to reverberate in lives she touched, with the words she so often said: To God be the glory.

 

In this Sunday’s gospel, a man comes to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life.* Jesus is clear. There is the law of the commandments to be kept. And there is the law of love that is always stretching us to extend our lives and resources beyond our capacities, comfort zones, and fears.

 

What I hear is that each of us is invited to count the days of our life for the love of God and the manifestation of God’s love in the world. Whatever is holding us back from whole-heartedly following Jesus, lay it down, be it “many possessions” as with the man in the gospel or the one that possesses us.

 

What is it that you need to give up to be free to love? Might it be an attitude or narrow thinking? Perhaps busyness or a host of entertaining diversions? Or fear of rejection, unease with not being in control, or discomfort with difference? Or maybe a sense of unworthiness or inadequacy

 

I cannot imagine myself loving as much, giving as much, or being as much as Love invites. But in our gospel Jesus assures us: For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible. I humbly pray openness, and to God be the glory.