Dear Parish Family,

Fear, Fidelity and Finality! The theme that runs through the readings of this Nineteenth Sunday colors most of our days. John Powell, in his book, Unconditional Love, tells the story of a young student who was dying of cancer. In the final stages of his illness, he came to see his former teacher Powell and said something to this effect:

Father, you once told us something in class that has made it easier for me to die young. You said: “There are only two potential tragedies in life, and dying young isn’t one of them. These are the two tragedies: If you go through life and don’t love and if you go through life and you don’t tell those whom you love that you love them.”

When the doctors told me that my cancer was terminal, I realized how much I’ve been loved. I’ve been able to tell my family and others how much they mean to me. I’ve expressed love. People ask me: “What’s it like being 24 years old and dying?” I tell them: “It’s not so bad. It beats being 50 years old and having no values!”

For most people thoughts of death are quite morbid and some even avoid going to funerals. There is nothing as definite as death, and yet we do fear and would like to keep those thoughts of our finality at the fringes of our ‘mind-sphere’. Probably we should take up the challenges in today’s story of Jesus, of making the meeting with the master of life a joyful one because we are living life to the full:  loving a lot more deeply, much less discriminately, more affectionately, and much more gratefully. Share with those near you that you love them and fill in the days with acts of compassion and kindness.

Examine your "fear-list" and see where you are lacking in tender care. May be you need to Trust the Divine Providence staunchly just like the Master leaving it all to the servants knowing that they could make the best choices for their own well-being. At every Eucharist the Master tells us He cares for us and is eager to be with us. There is always a happy ending to this life en route to Eternity
 

 Fr. Thomas Kunnel C.O.