Snowball's chance in purgatory

Isaiah 55:10-11

Thus says the LORD: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

    One of the toughest jobs in television is to be the weatherman or weatherwoman.  Sometimes we love them and sometimes we hate them.  School children hang their hopes on every word of the weatherman when he predicts snow, hoping for a school cancellation.  Store managers stock shelves on the word that a storm will cause power-outages.  People plan vacations and get-aways only after checking the extended forecast.  I’ve become friends with our local weatherman and he says he gets angry emails and even threats when the weather turns out different from his forecast.  One child refused to go to school one morning saying, “The weatherman said it would snow!”  A weatherman’s words can cause joy or sorrow, they can give hope or despair, they can produce excitement or calm.

    Today’s readings tell us that each of us carries the mantle of the weatherman; in a spiritual sense, our words can make it rain and snow.  Listen to Isaiah, who says: “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth…So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth…achieving the end for which I sent it.”  God’s grace, his mercy, is like rain and snow falling from heaven that produce goodness and growth, that give joy and healing, to all the earth.  And in the gospel Jesus tells his disciples how to unleash this torrent of grace: by prayer, like the “Our Father.”  When we pray for someone, we wear the mantle of the weatherman, and our words of prayer can cause the rain to fall, which brings joy, peace, hope and mercy.

    For a moment, think of someone who could use a little spiritual sunshine, or maybe a child who desperately wants another snowday!  Did you know a simple prayer for them can cause their spiritual weather pattern to change?  A friend of mine sent someone a note of encouragement and included John Donne’s powerful poem “Death be not proud.”  Do you think that not brought a warm southern breeze to scatter the dark and cold clouds hanging over that man’s heart?  You betcha.  Every week we send acknowledgements to grieving families that a Mass is offered for their deceased loved ones.  The graces from those Masses can change the weather patterns even in Purgatory!  One person who died set aside $10,000 in his will for Masses after he died: he was hoping for a few snowdays in Purgatory!  But don’t limit the heavenly rain and snow only to fall on those you love, but also pray for your enemies.  Every weatherman knows that when he forecasts a sunny day, that sun will shine for everyone.  It will even warm the faces of those who send him angry emails.

 Praised be Jesus Christ!