Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in the morning sailors take warning. As a marine, I never listened closely to this little rhyme but this week, in the oddness that was our weather in the Bay Area I thought about it and wondered what they would say if it was a “Red sky all day…what do we say?” We have had an awful fire season in California and I know much of the West Coast is now, as we pass into the middle of September, suffering from the same burning the loss of property, homes with so many wonderful memories, the death of loved ones, the stress on families that has been piled upon the pandemic restrictions it feels like we seem to be left with very little to put our hope. (Don’t forget God)

Many people have been joking, as have I, about the end of the world…a zombie apocalypse…or just a general apocalypse…a dinosaur extinction moment…or the second coming but we believe, ”Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Mt 24:42) (Don’t forget God)
In LL seriousness though, the idea of the end of the world, the second coming is an important part of our Christian faith. The Last Four Things: Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell are very real and are something we should be aware of and preparing for in our daily lives so that when the hour and day comes we are prepared to stand in front of the cross of salvation. In truth, most people don’t want to spend a lot of time thinking about death, let alone judgement. We may like to contemplate the wonder of Heaven but certainly are not ready to talk about the possibility of Hell in our own lives and this being a destination we wish to head. (Don’t forget God)

I was once challenged and at times challenge others with the question: Are you ready to die? Most of the time there is a horrified look in the persons eye with the immediate response of NO! But here is the qualifier…”Are you ready to die?” and “Do you want to die today?” are two completely different questions. I know I have written about this before but to contemplate ones own death is to remember our true destination is to be with God and that as mortal beings we will all one day die. We cannot escape this. It is how we were created. (Don’t forget God)
In taking time with the four last things we are compelled to look at our lives and how we are living them. Are we avoiding certain things because they are too hard even though we know they are the right thing to do? Are we knowingly acting in ways that are sinful, hurtful and damaging to our relationship with God and those around us? Because in asking the question…are we ready?… we should, if we believe in a just and merciful God, turn to what we should be doing and turn away from what we shouldn’t be doing and be ready. (Don’t forget God)

At a parish mission many years ago, the priest giving the mission reminded us all that God is not the big marshmallow god many people hope that he is…know matter what we do he giggles and lets us continue…rather He is a just and merciful God who judges us at the hour of our death. As a young man, at the time and until today, this has made a great impression on me and how I think of death. I don’t sit around all day in deep contemplation but surely when I do my examination of conscience each night it come back to me again and again. As a priest when I pray Night Prayer the closing prayer is a very simple line…”May the all powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. Amen” (Don’t forget God)
God Bless
Fr. Mark

On this anniversary of 9/11 we once more pray for peace in our world and perhaps contemplating our death will lead us to understand and grow in love towards the victims, perpetrators and those whose lives have been so affected over the intervening years. Pray for peace.