Homily outline combining resources: A joy that will last

• The beauty of the stars
  • I recall two moments where I realized the beauty of the stars:
    • the first time I went camping
    • and when I traveled to a village outside of Jos, Nigeria
  • With both experiences I recall the quiet, the darkness, the brightness
    • the quiet of the night that seemed to consume me
    • the darkness of the night that I felt I could get lost in
    • the brightness of the stars that became illuminating signs of the present and past united
  • Have you ever taken the time to stand in awe of the beauty of the stars?
  • Gazing at the stars opens us to see the past while shedding light in the present (Stars)
  • The more we look at these seemingly far off objects, the mystery of their creation and maturation can grow within us

• Life is finite
  • While we may not like to admit or think about it, life is finite
  • All of us experience loss, some that takes a long time to overcome and some that are merely inconveniences
    • losing an air pod
    • losing your first pet
    • losing a job
    • losing a loved one
  • Like the stars, all that is created will come pass away
  • The experience of the finite, and coming to accept that life is finite, can leave us searching for more
  • As Jesus teaches, “But of that day or hour, no one knows…” (Mk 13:32)
  • But Jesus shows that God promises something more

• With God, there is a promise of something that lasts.
  • “You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever” (Ps 16:11)
  • Through his earthly ministry, Jesus announces the presence of the kingdom of God
  • This announcement points people to God’s promise of eternal life
  • Daniel prophesizes about the resurrection of the dead (Dan 12:2)
  • The resurrection of Jesus makes our own resurrection possible
  • Jesus may have suffered and died, but the Son of Man lives for ever
  • Unlike the stars that may live for millions or billions of years, the resurrection promised for believers promises life for eternity

• Choosing joy.
  • A question remains: how do we reconcile a finite life with the promise of eternal life?
  • Each day, we can choose to live with joy
  • True joy comes not from material possession; true joy is found in believing in the word of God that “will not pass away” (Mk 13:31)
  • We may not be able to avoid obstacles, challenges, changes and loss; but, we can choose how we respond
  • The more we explore the mystery of Jesus’ resurrection, the more we can find hope that
    • we are not alone in the struggles
    • God is always with us
    • God can raise us to something new
  • We can create joy that lasts
    • “Accept the bad feelings”
    • Practice self-love
    • “Forge meaningful connections”
  • Deepening our hope in eternal life, trusting God, and growing in love will help us find joy
  • Let us choose joy and live with the anticipation for the fullness of life that God promises!