Workers, not Builders

“We may never see the end result. But that is the difference between master builders and workers. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs; we are prophets of a future not our own.” – Archbishop Oscar Romero Prophets of a Future not Our Own

            Throughout this pilgrimage we have visited various sites within the Holy Land. Today we began our brief journey into Jordan. We visited Mount Nebo, the place across the Jordan River where Moses saw the Promised Land. We were privileged to be able to celebrate Mass at the chapel atop the mountain. The view was quite remarkable, from the top of the mountain one could see the northern shore of the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, Jericho and the hills of Judea near Jerusalem. On a clearer day one can apparently see the city of Jerusalem from atop of this mountain. During the homily, the celebrant discussed the fact that Moses was brought to Mount Nebo in order to view the promised land, but told that he would die before he could enter it (Deut 32:48-52, 34:1-6). The theme of the homily was that we like Moses, must surrender ourselves to God’s plan and remember that we are but an instrument that God uses in order to carry out his plan of creation.

            I was reflecting upon this theme during our Mass on Mount Nebo. It occurred to me, as I had been with the group that celebrated Mass at the Holy Sepulcher yesterday, that our Promised Land is not an earthly city but a heavenly dwelling in the presence of God. This Promised Land is not anything which can be imagined in this earthly life. Rather, this earthly life exists in order to bring about God’s will in creation and to prepare us for the eternal Promised Land which awaits us in heaven. The work of building up this kingdom, which is ultimately God’s work, is a work which has existed before us and will continue to be perfected after we depart from this earthly life. Like Moses, we are called to help build up God’s creation, but we will ultimately leave much undone for it is not our project, but God’s creative action in which we can only cooperate in.

            It is Christ’s life, death and resurrection which have ultimately brought about the redemption of the entire created order. The only way in which we can enter into the eternal kingdom which God has promised us is to enter into the mystery of death and resurrection. It is this ultimate surrender to our independence, however illusory, and to everything which we have known which allows God to finish the work of perfecting us and bringing us into heaven. It is this eternal mystery which we enter into at every Mass. It is this eternal mystery which we have been blessed to enter into at such places as the Holy Sepulcher and Mount Nebo. It is this eternal mystery in which we must continue to immerse ourselves until our master builder summons us to himself.