Homily for Sept. 27th Where are you going to?

Do you know where you’re going to? Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to? Do you know?

These lines from one of the greatest songs in the career of Diana Ross got me to thinking; do we know where we are going to?

I know that when I travel, I plan to know just where I’m going to. Most of the time my travel works out great, especially these days with Map Quest and Google Maps. Sometimes though I lose my way and my wife will tell you that I hate to stop for directions. Help might just be one stop away but often I fail to stop and ask for directions.

Life is always a series of directions and instructions. Just yesterday at my house we had to install a new ceiling fan. The fan came with detailed instructions that helped to successfully install the fan. Directions and instructions lead us to the right destination and help us achieve the end in mind.

As people of faith do we follow the directions of Jesus Christ and follow the instructions of His Church? Do we know where we are going to? Do we know?

This one Gospel passage today has much to focus on. We have everything from St. John complaining about exorcists to Jesus teaching us to cut off our hand and foot and pluck out an eye. And we hear Jesus warn of the unquenchable fire of Gehenna. Three times in today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of Gehenna. Jesus is giving us our roadmap, our instructions to avoid Gehenna, but what is Gehenna?

No one speaks of hell and it’s consequences in New Testament Scripture more than Jesus himself. In using the term Gehenna, He is referring to the burning, rotting garbage dump that lay on the outskirts of Jerusalem. It was an awful place; foul, dirty, obnoxious odor as garbage and refuse burned and decayed all day and all night. In Old Testament times, human sacrifice was practiced here as the victim would simply be placed on the trash fire to burn. His followers and listeners would know the place well and could not imagine a worse place on earth. And Jesus refers to Gehenna to paint a picture of hell.

Jesus tells us that there is only one detour that leads to hell. That detour is sin and the possibility for one to die in a state of mortal sin. Hell is not a place created by God for Him to send sinners to this fiery eternity. No, hell is a place that only we can arrive at by losing our way and not stopping to ask directions. Hell can only be achieved by willfully ignoring His instructions and doing things our way; not His way.

Hell is not a place created by God for Him to punish; for God to pronounce sentence. Hell is a state that we choose by alienating ourselves from God’s love and mercy. But God does not desire that we follow this detour for He declares: “I take no pleasure in the death of a sinner but rather that He be converted and live.”

So how do we avoid this horrible detour and stay on the right path, following only God’s map and His instructions? Know the way. Follow the commandments and follow the beatitudes too. The commandments clearly spell out what we should do and not do and the beatitudes call us to do more; to serve and help others. Remember the answer Jesus gave to the one who asked Him, what is the greatest commandment? He replied: “Love the Lord your God with your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. And the second is this: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This is what He calls us to do.

The Catholic Church, founded by Jesus, is the ongoing Body of Christ and She continues to guide us with His instructions to help us avoid that detour to hell. Through the Sacraments we have another roadmap to help us follow the way. One sacrament that is a must is that of reconciliation or confession. To follow the directions we must be aware of mortal sin and venial sin. The Church teaches us that mortal sin destroys and turns one away from God. Venial sin offends and wounds. Mortal sin is a grave matter and is committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.

So much of what is considered commonplace in today’s society may apply here. Adultery for example is mortal sin. Every time we chose to have a sexual relationship outside of marriage we lose our way and commit mortal sin. This is just one example that I offer to make the wider point. Another is an overall indifference to attending Mass. I’ll go this week, maybe not next week, maybe again in two weeks but every time I go, I’ll receive Holy Communion. Missing Mass, with no grave reason is also an example of mortal sin.

But let’s also remember, sin can be forgiven. We must attend to confession quickly when we are aware of mortal sin. But let’s also remember, in all cases, Catholics are required to go to confession at least once a year. This is firm; there is no wiggle room in the Church’s teaching. But again let’s remember, Jesus stands ready to absolve us of our sins if we just follow the map and confess our sins. His mercy truly endures forever.

Let’s never forget these two important set of directions: the Bible and the Catechism. These are a must for every home and should be read and studied and prayed with often. Everything about sin I’ve spoken about here comes from the Catechism.

Every choice we make ultimately forms us and shapes us into who we are. By our choices we define ourselves and our relationship with God. We decide; do we want to follow Him, do we want His directions and His instructions? Do we want to live with Him eternally in Heaven or without Him forever in Hell?

Do you know where you’re going to?

Where are you going to? Do you know?