DAY BY DAY

DAY BY DAY

I was recently hit with an unexpected, and unwelcome surprise.  It seemed like my allergies were acting up, which happens with a change in the weather, but the symptoms became worse, and on Monday two weeks ago, after an hour workout in the morning, I suddenly felt very weak and tired.  Wham!  I ended up sleeping the rest of the day and night.  On Tuesday I went for a Covid-19 test and, yes, the result was positive.  Following my doctor’s instructions I quarantined for five days, until last Sunday, by which time the symptoms were gone.  I want to thank everyone who provided soup, over-the-counter medicine and prayers.  I want to especially thank Monsignor Depman, who despite an already busy schedule celebrated the Masses for us which I could not celebrate.    

The coronavirus came to me out of nowhere and I have no idea how I contracted it.  It’s surprise, suddenness, and power made me think of the Scriptures that are read this time of the year in the Mass which warn us to be prepared for the coming of Christ.  One of those readings is from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians: “For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.  When people are saying ‘Peace and security’ then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”  And in the Gospel last Sunday, “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.’”  The Sunday before last we heard the parable of the five wise virgins who were prepared for the bridegroom, who came at a late and unexpected hour, and the five foolish virgins who were unprepared and were barred from the wedding feast.

We do not know, we cannot predict the future of the world, nor even of our life on earth.  We are here today and gone tomorrow.  Contemplating this reality, as I coughed and sniffled and lay in bed, I thought of a popular song from the early seventies.  It was in the off-Broadway gospel musical, Godspell.  “Day by Day.”  Some of you know it: “Day by day, Day by day, O dear Lord, Three things I pray.  To see thee more clearly, Love thee more dearly, Follow thee more nearly, Day by day” (go ahead and sing it!).  There is wisdom in this gospel song, and it reflects a theme of Advent.  Walk with the Lord, day by day.  Don’t put it off.  Enjoy his presence now.  Love your spouse, your family, your friends, and the poor and the sick, now.  We know not what tomorrow will bring.

Great advice from St. Paul: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).  We cannot add to our span of life but we can use the day we are now living to do good, to love God, and to love our neighbor.  Plan for the future, yes, but be ready for a surprise.  The wise person realizes his or her limitation: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain’; whereas you do not know about tomorrow.  What is your life?  For you are a midst that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:13-14).        

We don’t know when Christ will return in glory.  It is not for us to know, as Jesus himself told us: “Watch, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).  His answer to the disciples’ question about the restoration of the kingdom of Israel was, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority” (Acts 1:7).  Nor do we know the day or the hour in which we will leave this world and be presented before Christ for our particular judgment, when he will pass sentence on our works and faith.  Just like it makes no theological or moral sense to try to determine the time of Christ’s return to earth, neither does it make sense to predict when we will go to him.  But if we live every day in faith and love, we will have no reason to fear.  “For there is no fear in love.  For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).  To see Christ more clearly, to love him more dearly, and to follow him more nearly, day by day, will give us freedom, and we will not be caught as fools when he comes for us.  We will have no fear, for “At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love” (St. John of the Cross).