My dear parishioners, study is never complete, practice never comes to an end. Whenever a gifted figure dies, our sadness encompasses more than the loss of the artist’s personality and flair. We mourn the passing of genius as well. If only the artist could be permitted a little more time to achieve perfection. If only he could have another day.
In truth, no human activity or enterprise can be objectively perfect. Man knows himself as a fallen creature and inclined to do evil. This is both a curse and a consolation. Throughout his brief and thorny life, mortal man will forever remain a work in progress. The material world cannot redeem him. Left to himself, man inevitably degrades both his human potential and meritorious achievements.
At conception, the divine creator graciously bestows intellect and will and bodily form to every human being—indeed all the faculties needed to be whole and entire with the potential for a meaningful life. Nevertheless, being born “whole and entire” into the natural world is not the last word with respect to human personhood or the vicissitudes of time.
For who begins a story which ends with the first paragraph? Who can omit the life-long quest compelling human beings to learn the meaning of their existence? Or their unique purpose in life? For the soul which makes one’s personhood complete also awakens a great hunger, an urgent longing for fulfillment. Thus human beings long for that which is good. They desire to become good themselves and ultimately seek union with God, the source of all good. Before it is too late.
Thanks be to God that the carpenter of Nazareth taught us how to build. He is the foundation, the solid rock on which God’s kingdom is fixed secure. Jesus Christ, through whom all things were made, is the divine architect of our existence. Without exception, God calls each and every human being to undertake the mighty work of “being changed into (the Lord’s) likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” [2Cor 3:18]
Not knowing explicitly the plans drawn out for us by our Divine Creator, we take up the tools and materials at hand: the Sacraments, daily devotions, Sacred Scripture, the spiritual writings of the Church, worship, prayer, and Christian service to one another. The community of faith works side-by-side with us to help us grow, accomplish and attain the fullness of our humanity.
We often pay homage to the gifted musician and architect, the master artist and physician. But we do so cautiously knowing that a broadside of plastic compliments is the death of genius. It is a paradox that the fulfillment of a noble charism always lies just beyond the next concert, the next experiment, the next skyscraper, the next canvas. Yet this should not discourage us.
At every moment of life, man’s practical work remains unfinished. Vastly more important, however, is to understand why human beings are a composition in progress. A Christian advances far in the spiritual life when he grasps his very own personhood to be a unique and irreplaceable creation more pleasing to God than all the stars of the cosmos. Indeed, the work of God (Lat. opus Dei) is to love man into freely abandoning himself “degree by degree” to the glory that is Christ! Pray to become worthy to bear Our Lord’s own image and likeness and stand blameless before our loving heavenly father when the angel blows the trumpet and time is no more. May God bring your humble work to glorious perfection! Sincerely in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. Your pastor, Reverend Richard Barker
My dear parishioners, study is never complete, practice never comes to an end. Whenever a gifted figure dies, our sadness encompasses more than the loss of the artist’s personality and flair. We mourn the passing of genius as well. If only the artist could be permitted a little more time to achieve perfection. If only he could have another day.