Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today is the second last Sunday of the liturgical Year. This liturgical year will end with the Solemnity of Christ the King next Sunday, and then we will begin a new liturgical year. Two weeks from now is also Thanksgiving. While the church will begin the Advent season and new liturgical year, the commercial world will focus on Black Friday, hysterical sales pitches, a month-long Christmas mania and New Year sales and parties. In other words, we are about the enter a frenzied time in the calendar year in which families, celebrations, gifts exchanges, meals, parties, and religiosity will take center stage. In the midst of all these things, these two weeks are an invitation to pause, to slow down, even to stop. This is the time to retreat, to evaluate, to think about that which is truly important.
Let us use the readings as we accept this invitation:
1) The first reading from the book of Daniel is about character. Daniel, as he describes the impending catastrophic apocalypse, says, “But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.” Two invitations then: the invitation to be wise and the invitation to be just. First, wisdom: Over the past couple of months this is the third time that we are hearing about the wise or wisdom. At each of the previous occasions I defined wisdom as “the way in which God acts in the world.” Perhaps as we reflect on the end times, we can also reflect on whether the way act in our world is a sincere effort to how God would act in the world. Second: as Daniel suggests, those who lead the way to justice will be like the stars forever. We can examine our own lives to see if our righteousness rules our relationship with God, others and our own self. The best way for us to be ready for the end times would be to be wise and just.
2) As I was writing this homily, I heard news about the terrorist attacks in Paris. More than 120 people have been killed. It is shocking that some people’s goal in life is to cause as much destruction as possible. This is not only true of global terrorism but also the gun violence in our own country. Think about the amount of time, effort, resources that some people spend to cause carnage and destruction. And then there is Jesus. In today’s second reading from Hebrews the author tells us that Jesus did just the opposite. He did no harm, but rather, he offered his life as a sacrifice for sins. Jesus put his time, effort and resources into doing good, in saving and redeeming actions. In this very uncertain time, the world urgently needs people who in spite of all the destruction, hatred, and revenge remain committed to good. Today, Christ needs people whose motive is not revenge, hatred and violence, but rather, peace and reconciliation. Yes, the magnitude and intensity of violence, hatred and war may seem overwhelming, but, like Jesus, we cannot give up on the Kingdom of God. Can Christ depend on you?
3) The gospel reading gives to us today exactly what it gave to the people for whom it was originally written – assurance and hope. Today’s first reading and the gospel reading carry apocalyptic connotations. The main purpose of apocalyptic literature is to offer assurance and hope in times of tribulations. We live in times of great tribulations ourselves. While the ground under us seems to slip away, we are invited to put our whole faith in the Son of Man whose power and glory far exceed the tribulations. We are compelled, then today, to pay heed to the fragile nature of the created world and everything in it. Someday, the created universe as we experience it, will be no more. We will be no more. What then? When everything passes away, today’s scripture teaches to cling on to God. Jesus, the Son of Man is our refuge. Yes! “Heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will never pass away.” Today, God continues to offer us hope.
This Eucharist is eternal. Heaven and earth will pass away but this celebration remains eternal. As we celebrate this Eucharist, my we find hope in times of tribulation. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph