As the liturgical year comes to a close our readings continue the theme of the end times. It amazes me sometimes how many people think the literal end of the world is near. This morning I was talking with this Catholic family who described how now was the end times, because of the writings of some priest from 40 years ago. In contrast I stood with a patient as the doctor told them there was nothing more they do to improve the persons health. In one case the family was afraid of the predicted doom, in the other a patient offered courageous acceptance of the real outcome of their condition.
Anticipation of endings either predicted or real can cause upheaval for the best of us. For many in our country the elections have and are still causing significant upheaval. Whether these are simply predicted or real, there is still a palpable fear. This fear existed for either party as neither could imagine a world with the other candidate as president.
Imagine Jesus words in today’s Gospel, they will seize and persecute you and hand you over all because of my name. What would be our thoughts if we stood in the shoes of the disciples hearing it. It seemed that Jesus was predicting that the disciples future was a world of upheaval . The prophecy on Jesus’ lips did in fact become very real for the early church. Some, Jesus said, would be put to death and yet not a hair on their head would be harmed.
The promise Jesus made stated that, no matter what happened, a life of faith would end in triumph. A triumph envisioned in the book of revelation. The battle has been won and the beast defeated! The vision described by John is one of complete awe. “Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty.” Yet it leaves us with a question that may perhaps be rhetorical : “Who will not fear you, Lord or glorify your name?” Either way, it is a question we might answer for ourselves.
Whom do we fear? How do we glorify the Lord with our lives? If the battle has been won for us, how come the battle seems to still be ongoing? The battle seems unending as we witness it in our politics, in our workplaces, and yes sometimes even in our churches. Yet, the readings for today speak of how the power of testimony to the Lord will carry us beyond the fears and persecutions that plague us. The gospel reminds us that our testimony must be based in belief and this belief will have eternal consequences.
Lord, help us to be at peace this day. Guide our hearts through the endings we are facing so that our whole being can once again be renewed again with a joy that will allow us to glorify the Lord with our lives.
- Deacon Michael Montgomery