Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

Take heed of the Gospel this morning – especially you young parents.  For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His day.  So too shall your children be in your day.

One the things I always tell young parents is you have to enjoy the day, the moment, the here and now.  It can be easy to get caught up in I want my children to grow older so I can sleep at night, stop cutting the grass, play catch with them, converse with them, not have to ground them anymore – the list could go on forever.  But just as Jesus warned his disciples this morning in our Gospel I now warn you.  Life moves and as you will soon see, life moves quickly.  Prepare for tomorrow but live for today.  I can still remember vividly thoughts of my youth.  I remember sitting in the bathroom one day (during dinner on a Fall evening) and chuckling to myself that I could remember the day when it stayed light past 5 PM.  I didn’t understand the concept or meaning of day-light savings time.  Mom heard me chuckling and yelled that I needed to speed things up and eat before my food got cold.  (It was probably brussel sprout night and I was in there depositing brussel sprouts where they should go…enough said).  Fast forward and I can remember taking pictures of my firstborn at my in-laws house.  We had just moved to Decatur and were back home visiting Sarah’s parents.  Grace was only a few months old at the time, had no hair but beautiful eyes and had a St. Louis Cardinals dress on.  Feels like yesterday – that was 32 years ago.  For just as lightning flashes…

I think the message for today is simple – don’t look past today.  Live the experiences life has to offer you each and everyday of your life.  I will leave you with the advice I gave my daughter Cecilia when she moved to LA (over 5 years ago now)…

In all you do, praise God.  For all good gifts, thank God.  In times of doubt and fear, seek God.  For all you need, ask God.  And most importantly, make sure you take the weekend bulletin to prove to your Mother you went to Church on Sunday.

Do something great for our Lord today – don’t try to catch the lightning flash, live for today.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Buy you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness.  Compete well for the faith.