33rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Readings: Malachi 4:1-2

                 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
                Luke 21:5-19

 

“By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

 

 

Today's gospel gives us a thematic continuity regarding the evangelical thoughts on the end-time. If last Sunday we meditated on the resurrection as a matter of certainty that shall happen, today's gospel talks about some apocalyptic signs which are also bound to happen at the end-time. But among others, the gospel seems to outline these points for meditation.

 

1. The end of this earthly life is certain. If eternity is something assured by our Christian faith, we too must acknowledge and accept that whatever is bound in time shall end in time. And this is precisely so since eternity is just beyond time. So, when eternity reigns, time is gone. Figuratively, the gospel describes: "All that you see here - the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Surely, this destruction refers to the Temple. But for a Jew, the Temple bespeaks of God's presence. Thus, such destruction of the Temple and the end-time would be closely identical.

 

The Scripture calls the end-time as the "Day of the Lord.” Seemingly, this is first used by the prophet Amos (cf Amos 5:14ff). Here, Amos describes the Day of the Lord as something dreadful; for indeed, it really is for those who are wicked. But for those who fear the Lord, this day is a day of justice, a day of joy. This is what our first reading tells us. - - - Now, similar ideas are being carried over in the New Testament understanding of the Day of the Lord. It is a day of universal judgment (cf Rom 1:18). But this day of reckoning is more specific. It means the second coming of Christ, i.e., when he comes as judge. Hence, the Parousia is that day when Christ punishes those who rejected him and his Word, but fulfills the hopes and longings of those who put their faith in him. This is surely to come; this is surely to happen.

 

But although the end of time is certain, no one knows when the exact moment will be. "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" Jesus does not point out any precise date. This is a "top secret" that even the angels in heaven do not know (Mt 24:36). The gospel only enumerates signs that accompany, or better, precede it:

 

a. False Prophets and Prophecies. This is a very common occurrence especially during milleniar endings. Even secular writers and historians provide us some hints, if not facts, that people at the nearing of the second millennium, would talk about the end of the world, about the end-time, about the Parousia. The same phenomenon happens as we are out to end this third millennium. Sects, cults, seers, people who consider themselves "prophets," not only talk but preach about the end of the world with a sense of vigor and surety. Their preaching comes so powerful as to gain some followers. At times, we are even tempted to follow, too. In moments like this, Jesus' answer during his time remains valid even at this time: "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and “The time has come.’ Do not follow them!”

 

b. Natural and Man-made Calamities. The false alarms made by false prophets seem to gain attention because both natural and man-made calamities which the scripture talks about are also happening as they go preaching. Or shall we propose that they indeed have the nerve to preach precisely because all these calamities are happening? In whatever way, the gospel itself has this clear answer: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky…When you hear about wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.”

 

3. That is why the purpose of this apocalyptic message is not to Threaten us (as some cults do), but to ignite in us the virtue of vigilance. Such vigilance can be well expressed in and through the fundamental choice we ought to give to and for the Lord. Thus, the image of the Day of the Lord is used. This fundamental option for the Lord is best tested in persecution and in the crises we may have in our family.

 

The persecutions which Christ foretells to happen at the end-time remind us of those difficult years at the beginning of Christianity. Countless lives were offered before the pagan gods. And because of terrible fear and terror, we know of some apostates who proved weak before this ordeal of life. But if there were those who denied their faith, there were but even greater number of pious souls who rather submitted themselves to torture and death than to deny Christ, their Master and Lord.

 

The coming persecution, however, may take another form since the powers-that-be of today are themselves "Christians," too. It may even appear more difficult to discern which is which and who is who. We may become uncertain who are really for or against Christ since almost everyone would be bringing the name of Christ. Our modern experience seems to attest to this, since we already hear of some cults whose members are fanatically waging their arms to kill people in the name of Christ.

 

Added to this painful scenario would be the feud which may happen to the very circles of our families. And this is so possible and easy to happen because of the permissiveness of today's society. Issues like contraception, abortion, divorce and the like may instill division in the family. And worse, today we can already hear awful and ungodly things happening at home, like rape and murder. Indeed, as the gospel says, “You will be betrayed even by parents, and brothers, and kinsmen and friends, and some of you will be put to death.”

 

4. But although we shall be subjected to the most difficult tests, the gospel lays down its unequivocal assurance of the Lord's presence. Our God is the God of truth who makes true to his promises. He once promises to be with us till the end of time, and this he is surely to fulfill. He cannot just allow to frustrate the aspirations and longings of his people which he himself has planted into their hearts. And today, we hear him say it again: "But even though you are hated by all for my name's sake, not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm and you will save yourselves.” This, then, is the evangelic consolation that builds our hope.

 

Again, the "Day of the Lord" is surely frightful to the unprepared, to the carefree, to the wicked. But to those who hope in his love, to those who await for his coming, the Day of the Lord is a day of triumph, a day great rejoicing!