Warriors for the Working Day

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” Matthew 13:44-46 (NASB)

This Gospel reading got me thinking, I've always been a seeker, a searcher. I was always looking for something! St. Augustine says "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Well, I finally found rest in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, the Holy Eucharist! The first time I walked into a Catholic Church, I knew I was home! My "heart burned within" me, (Luke 24:32,) with a desire to receive Our Lord, since entering the Church, I've never looked back!

Our world is restless! Always moving, always seeking, never satisfied! This, of course, is nothing new, but somehow the pace has quickened, escalated! In his book "Man's Search for Meaning," the Existentialist philosopher, and concentration camp survivor, Victor Frankel said; "Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear almost any 'how." Purpose! Or as a Protestant pastor I once knew put it "Meaning, purpose, and definition."

We Catholics have the ultimate 'why,' the ultimate purpose! Those of you who are "cradle Catholics," probably memorized it as children; from the Baltimore Catechism;

6. Q. Why did God make you?

A. God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven.

But how do we serve God in this world? Our Precious Lord tells us, in no uncertain terms;

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Matthew 10:34 (NASB)

We Catholics are warriors, as Pope Leo XIII said, "...Christians are born for combat." In his letter, St. Jude gives us our marching orders;

"17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
Jude 1:17-23 (NASB)

In this striving for the Kingdom of God, the battle is the Lord's, and Our Eucharistic Lord strengthens us for the fight! A few lines from Shakespeare's "Henry V" have always been my battle cry! I pray you'll make them yours as well;

"We are but warriors for the working day;
Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched With rainy marching in the painful field...But, by the Mass, our hearts are in the trim,"

Yes, "by the Mass, our hearts are in the trim!!"