How do you see it?

     For my post today I would like to share something that I wrote for our diocesan web page as a scripture reflection for this Third Sunday in Winter Ordinary Time.  If you would like to mark this website, it is at www.dioceseofgreensburg.org. 

     Is the glass half empty ... or half full?  The way we approach that question speaks volumes as to where we are in life and the wisdom that we possess.  It determines whether we have a sense of frantic urgency about us or whether we live in complacent hope.  Into which extreme do we root our lives?

     There is a sense of urgency in the scriptures for this Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.  In fact, it is the urgency that we find at the beginning of Lent, an urgency that we find as any deadline approaches.  In beginning his public ministry Jesus said "This is the time of fulfillment.  The kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel."  Paul in writing to the Church in Corinth says that "time is running out".  Jonah announced the destruction of Nineveh because of their sinfulness and called for immediate repentance.

     Does this sense of urgency bring about panic or quiet assurance in us?  How do we see the glass of our lives?

     Some would tend to see the glass as empty, expecting nothing.  When they realize that the glass is half full, they relax, because they must have done something right and things are looking brighter, fuller, more blest.  They take it in stride - after all, things could only get better.  There is nothing to do but soak it in.

     We are called to see that the glass is meant to be full, filled with the life giving waters of grace, abundant in the richness of God's love and favor.  As followers of Jesus Christ, anything less than a full glass is deprivation.  Like the people of Nineveh, who did not have the benefit of a knowledge or experience of God's love prior to Jonah's visit, we need to be wise and realize that anything less than full is not good.  It requires of us urgent action, not out of fear but out of need and a response to God's love.  It requires of us repentance, fasting, sackcloth, a change of heart, a turning away from emptiness and darkness and an embracing of the gospel.

     If you find your glass half full, then leave all behind and renew your commitment to follow Jesus, as did James and John, as did Simon Peter and his brother Andrew.  Fill that glass with the love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For when the world "in its present form" passes away, we will have the security of his grace and mercy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Today, the 21st of January, is the feast of Saint Agnes, the patron of one of our neighboring parishes.  We wish the priests and families of Saint Agnes in North Huntingdon the very best.
Happy feast day!