Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Scripture

In this last week of Ordinary Time, we’ve been hearing some ominous messages in the Gospel of Luke. On the one hand, Jesus’ words refer to the destruction of Jerusalem that was to happen within a few decades of his death. It wouldn’t be surprising if those who heard this message assumed that the world was to end with the destruction of Jerusalem. But of course, the world didn’t end in 60 A.D.

Throughout Christian history, people have sought to predict the end of the world, and to speak a message of warning, especially to unbelievers so that they know of their coming condemnation and seek conversion. It is ok if we hear these words today and feel a little uncomfortable. The truth is that after 2000 years of Christianity (and numerous false predictions of the world ending), we’ve become pretty confident that the world is not ending anytime soon. But as we hasten toward the end of the liturgical year, we are called to realize that we are also hastening toward the end of the world as we know it. A consistent gospel message is that we do not know when this end is coming and so must always live as though the end is near.

This does not mean that we can or should ignore the daily things of life – showing up to work, changing diapers at home, getting stuck in traffic, etc. What it means is that we need to sanctify all of our work. Jesus’ message is more promising than depressing: “Your redemption is at hand” (Lk 21:28). Those who have lived upright, faithful lives, sacrificing for God and offering their lives to God have every reason to stand erect. When we look at the first reading form Daniel we see an example that prefigures what this might look like. The story of Daniel in the lion’s den is a famous one, and we all know that he did not get eaten by the lions. But we sometimes miss the details of the story.

Today’s passage is as much about King Darius as it is about Daniel. King Darius did not want to have Daniel killed, as he trusted and relied upon Daniel. And when Daniel survived the lion’s den, King Darius took this as a witness to God’s power. We might say it led to his conversion – as well as the conversion of his kingdom. If we, like Daniel, can also lead faithful lives, despite the required sacrifices , then we too can witness to God’s power, mercy, and love. If we can offer all that we do as gifts to God, we will transform the world. If we can embrace our weaknesses and let our sins lead us to repentance, we will be a model for reconciliation. By our example, others may be led to the redemption offered for us in the person of Christ Jesus – in his life, death, and resurrection. Our redemption is at hand.

Now is the time to give ourselves fully to God, in every action and thought of our day. We will be prepared for the end if we live for the end, always remembering that there is more to come than this life has to offer. 

- Maria Morrow