Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings,
who seeks his strength in flesh,
whose heart turns away from the LORD.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters

This Sunday is a Sunday of contrasts. Throughout the readings, psalm, and Gospel the contrasts between those who walk with the Lord and those who walk apart are made very clear.

Blessed are you who are this. Woe to you who are that.

God knows what He’s doing. He created us and fully understands that we are faced with a life full of contrasts, contrasts that range from days of warmth, not too long ago, to blizzards. We are faced with a life of choices, choices in our marriages, our jobs, our families, our ministry, and our personal moments.

The prophets, speaking for God, and Jesus —“ God Himself —“ tell us that all the choices, all the contrasts lead either to a walk with God, or a walk alone.

While the choice to follow Jesus ultimately falls to us, we must also remember Jesus’ words:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.

In other words, Jesus has called us and chosen us. For our part we are called to believe and believe in full. We must have faith in full, otherwise that faith, the very time we spend here is, as Paul says, in vain.

Our part in the choice is clear, and the Church is here to help us in our choosing. The Church is here, not for the purpose of condemnation, but for the purpose of light, light that will move us from the act of choosing and cooperating to the full realization of God’s kingdom.

Bishop Hodur, who we honor this week on the 54th anniversary of his entry onto eternal life, understood that we have to make those choices.

Bishop Hodur’s faith, learning, and experiences brought him to the realization that the Catholic Church must proclaim not only the choice, but the fact that choice for God is compelling. He wanted us to understand that that compelling choice leads to a life that is fuller, richer, and more joyful. Because of our choosing and cooperation our work is better, our athletic abilities are enhanced, our marriages are stronger, and our communities are improved. Every aspect of life is touched by our choosing.

Bishop Hodur desired that the Catholic Church be known as what it is, namely the Church of ultimate hope and joy; the Catholic Church which proclaims the fact that man is regenerated in Christ Jesus. He understood the Catholic Church as the one that proclaims God’s light, and the positive affect sharing in God’s life has in our world.

For us this means that the Church we follow does not preach hellfire, but rather our need to cooperate in our salvation. The Church we follow does not put an end to God’s grace at death, but proclaims that God’s love, grace, and mercy are eternal. The Church we follow tells us to come to communion from where we are, so that by God’s grace we may be changed.

Do not stand apart. Choose to join with us, and do what Jesus asked:

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.

The Church we follow tells us that we must not be dismal and sad, looking like sin has won. We must come in joy, knowing that our choice for Jesus has won us eternal life. It has won us a likeness to Jesus of Whom Paul says:

Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

For us it comes down to choices.

Will we be hungry or full, thirsty or quenched, poor or rich, sorrowful or joyful, persecuted and derided or spoken well of? Certainly! Will we be those things and sin because of them? Certainly! Will we try to be what Jesus asks, yet fall short of the mark Jesus set? Again, certainly! Will we be able to enumerate every sinful moment and choice in our marriages, our jobs, our families, and our personal moments? Yes!

And through it all, no matter the level of guilt, poor self-esteem, self-loathing, temptation, and sorrow —“ we must be joyful for the good news is that we will be blessed, on account of our choice for the Son of Man.