‘TIS THE SEASON:
Scripture: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every activity under heaven…” – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Catechism: “At every time and in every place, God draws close to mankind. He calls people to seek Him, to know Him, to love Him with all their strength. He calls together all people, scattered and
divided by sin, into the unity of His family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son as Redeemer and Savior. In His Son and through Him, He invites everyone
o become, in the Holy Spirit, His adopted children and thus heirs of His blessed life.” – CCC #1
Brothers and sisters, if we didn’t know it a few weeks ago, we know it now: we are in the season of winter! It is my favorite time of year, and I am aware that many of you think I’m crazy for not preferring constant warmth and sunshine. However, we need the winter, just like we need spring, summer, and fall.
We need the snow, because we need the water. For the last few summers, we’ve had periods of drought that played havoc on local farms, gardens, and produce. When this happens, costs go up on fruits and vegetables. As such, we then turn to what we seem to do best – complain.
As this particular section of scripture, ‘ A Time For Everything’ continues, it says that there is a time to tear down, and a time to build up. As we have witnessed over the last few years led by our society and all the cultural changes throughout the world, we seek opportunities to tear down, but make little effort to build up; to build others up. We have been caught up in the mindset that if others do not think or act like us or how we expect them to, then they become the enemy and we must take them down. So, I ask – where is the season of love?
However, brothers and sisters, it is not to us that people must conform, it is to God – to God’s will – not ours. We are not masters of the universe; the Lord is. One thing we should always remember is that when the Just Judge judges, He will judge us according to our hearts. This should be a little scary for some of us, because He doesn’t give a ‘free pass.’ Also, in chapter three of Ecclesiastes, after the ‘Time For Everything’ section, follows ‘The Problem With Retribution,’ which states:
“Moreover, I observed something else under the sun:
Where justice should be, there was wickedness,
And iniquity was in the place of righteousness.
But I remained confident in my belief
That God will judge both the righteous and the wicked,
For He has appointed a time for every matter
And He will issue a judgment on every work.”
It is this section, brothers and sisters, that we should be more concerned about. Because it is within our power to change how we think, how we act, towards each other. We are called to love everyone, even those different from us. If we want to receive kindness, we must first be kind; if we want dialogue, we must first listen; if we want forgiveness, we must first forgive others. And, if we want to be loved, we must first love. Therefore,
let us create a season of love.
“Peace is built on respect for all people…Evil can only be overcome with good.”
-Pope Leo XIV
