An Old Soul

Advancing in wisdom, age and grace

Mark 6:7-13

           Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.  He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their belts.  They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.  Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.”  So they went off and preached repentance.  The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

            Today just happens to be my 46th birthday – in case you didn’t already see that on Facebook.  Now, let me ask you: does 46 years old sound “old” to you?  I bet that sounds very old to our altar servers, but it probably sound very young to our Ladies Auxiliary.  Well, I recently came across these signs to tell if you’re getting old.  Feel free to test yourself:  (1) In a hostage situation, you’re likely to be released first.  That’s a good thing!  (2) You and your teeth do not sleep together.  (3) People call at 9 a.m. and ask, “Did I wake you?”  I wish that’s what people asked me.  (4) You begin every other sentence with, “Nowadays…” because nowadays sure ain’t “the good old days.”  (5) The clothes you put away until they come back in style…well, they have come back in style.  (6) Things you buy now won’t wear out (because you’ll wear out before they do!).  (7) There’s nothing left to learn the hard way.  (8) The phrase “getting a little action” means you don’t need to take a laxative today (sorry about that one).  (9) When getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot.  (10) When your happy hour is a nap.  (11)  When you are 7 around the neck, 42 around the waist and 94 around the golf course.  Well, did you past the test?

            Here’s a better test to see if you’re not just growing old, but growing up, that is, becoming wiser and more mature, really advancing in age, like Jesus “advanced in wisdom, age and grace” (Luke 2:52).  It’s when you have a firm grasp of God’s will, and you feel peace and purpose in your life.  Do you feel that way, or do you feel lost?  Sometimes, even very young people can be very mature in this way, when we say that the child has “an old soul.”  The 12 year old Jesus had an old soul.  I would say the best test of advancing in age is knowing God’s will, knowing why God put you on this planet.  If you don’t know that, you’re just a youngster, even if you don’t sleep with your teeth!

            In the gospel today we see the Apostles are advancing in age, too, because they are discovering God’s will for their lives.  Mark writes, “Jesus summoned the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.”  Even though the apostles had all come from widely diverse backgrounds – fishermen, tax collectors, religious zealots – their primary purpose would now be a spiritual one, having authority over unclear spirits.”  In other words, they all began to develop “old souls” because they discovered God’s will, even young John, whose youth is depicted in art by his lack of a beard.  You see, the true sign of advancing in wisdom, age and grace is a clear awareness of God’s will, not whether you’re 46 or 56 or can’t find your car in the parking lot.

            My friends, in modern American culture there’s a real tension and tug-of-war between youth and old age.  The young can’t wait to grow up and the old are still celebrating their 39th birthday for the 20th time!  No one seems to be happy in their own skin.  Instead of spending so much time, money and energy trying to look older or look younger, worry rather about knowing God’s will in your life.  That’s how you can tell if you’re advancing in wisdom, age and grace.

            Here are six signs of knowing God’s will: (1) Am I at peace in my vocation to marriage, or as a priest, or as a single person, or as a religious brother or sister?  Everyone is called to one of those four “states of life.”  (2) Do I know the talents and gifts God has given me and do I use them for his glory?  (3) Do I find more joy in helping others, especially the poor, or am I living for myself?  (4) Do I pray to know God’s will or do I pray so that God will know MY will?  (5) Do I have a genuine friendship with Jesus: praising him, serving him, receiving his sacraments, becoming more like him?  Here’s the hardest test of all: (6) Do I accept the authority of the Church (priests, bishops and pope) to guide my faith and morals, and to help me overcome unclean spirits?  You see, God’s will is manifest in the teachings of the Church, that’s why he established the Church in the first place, to help us all to have “old souls.”

            Today’s my birthday and I’m 46 years old.  My bones creek when I genuflect at Mass.  My hair is growing, but in all the wrong places.  An old priest told me once, “A holy pastor wakes up at 4 o’clock…twice a day.”  I can say, “Check!”  But I’m not worried about my old body because what I really want is an “old soul,” one that is advancing in wisdom, age and grace, and fulfilling God’s will.  If that’s what happens every birthday, then I don’t mind getting a little older.

            Praised be Jesus Christ!