Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2022-2023)

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to witness a solar eclipse. I do not know how many of us had a chance to see it.

For many people in ancient times, a solar eclipse generated fear.

They thought the world would end or that great evil would follow.

one believe was saying that the angry sun turning away and covering herself with darkness in response to men’s bad behavior.

In ancient Greece, two groups called the Medes and the Lydians were once fighting when a solar eclipse darkened the sky. According to Wired.com, they thought it meant the gods were angry, and they ended their longstanding conflict.

For us, the people of the 21st century, with more or less knowledge of astronomy, it seems silly.

Yes, the moment is exciting but not terrifying, perhaps it can be only terrifying for those who tried to watch the solar eclipse without proper filters.

But for all of us, we know that after the moment of darkness, the light will return.

But there are some moments which are trying our hearts and souls, our minds, and our nervous systems, like the ancient people with the eclipse solar.

The Israel-Palestinian War, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and today in Poland, we have the vote for our Parliament - there is a lot of hate between the two major parties, and the Polish people like never before.

There is a huge polarization of the political situation in Poland and many other countries we experience that here as well, which brings enmity between ordinary people.

What is your mind now, what is your solar eclipse, that very moment or situation which you think will never encounter light anymore?

We live in times that almost the each day, we are caught in a psychological crossfire of anger, confusion, depression, and anxiety.

It is as if someone is doing it on purpose to keep us in fear for ourselves and our loved ones.

My dear friends, so what should we do?

Especially if you feel this way, you are invited to fall back on faith, to let your faith sustain you, shield you, and reassure you.

I am still greatly impressed by our second reading - last week, I shared some thoughts about it, and today we have a continuation of the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.

Remember that without faith, these readings are just unlighted torches, just some ancient writings that seem powerless.

But with faith, the Word of God can enlighten and enliven you.

Did this sentence in today’s second reading catch your attention?

“I can do all things in him who strengthens me” (4:13).

Paul is saying, “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.”

Try to let that words sink into the innermost depths of our soul. “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”

It is not some psychological technique to reassure us that we are invincible.

Surely, There are the moments where you and me feel helpless.

You may feel this way about your life, uncertain about your marriage or work. It can be truly overwhelming and burdensome.

We, like the ancient people who felt helpless and defenseless at the prospect of losing the light, can experience the same if we do not believe what Saint Paul believed in his writings.

He truly believed that 'HE can do all things in God who strengthens HIM.

In that same passage, Paul goes on to say, 'My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

But what are these glorious riches of what He is writing about, what is that powerful what can convince us the Light will be back.

A well-known liturgist Father Eugene Walsh, put that promise this way:

“Jesus promises you two things: your life will have meaning and you are going to live forever.

If you can find a better offer, take it!”

Your life does indeed have meaning in Jesus. You are destined to live forever with Jesus.

These are elements of the glorious riches that Paul had in mind when he wrote to the Philippians (and derivatively to you), remember he was in prison in Rome at that time: “My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

But what about these wedding garments from the today’s Gospel Reading?

I'm guessing that each of us would follow the wedding dress code at the wedding.

Who would like to attend a family or friends' wedding in pajamas?

I do not think so!

So what is this “wedding garment” for us?

It is the grace of baptism.

Being baptized, you receive the white baptismal garment, which tells that your life got a total meaning in God and will last forever.

One of the Church Fathers, Saint John Chrysostom, said: "It is easier for the sun not to give warmth or shine than for the Christian not to shed his light."

Baptism is what makes us shine, even when we face tough challenges in our lives, like the solar eclipse.

The grace we receive allows us to keep moving forward with hope and trust.

In baptism, we recognize that it is in God that we can do all things.