Cycle C - 33rd ORDINARY - NOVEMBER 13, 2022
(based on the Sunday Gospel reading from Luke 21:5-19).
“By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
We live in such troubled times:
Thank God – we survived the COVID 19 Pandemic, although it is not totally over yet.
We heard about various terrorist attacks which killed at least a hundred people, including many children.
Many young people died in Seoul, South Korea as a tragic consequence of a sudden crowd surge.
We hear of heart-breaking news of destructions and the sufferings of countless innocent victims because of the war in Ukraine which has serious global consequences including shortage of food supply for poor countries.
We hear of natural calamities (hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, fires) during the past few months.
People lost everything they had – including their loved ones.
Having said that - these tragedies, calamities, disasters - point up to one truth: the transient or passing nature of things in this world. Meaning - Nothing lasts.
Jesus spoke of this in today's Gospel. The disciples were celebrating the beauty of the temple. And Jesus said: "These things which you see shall not be left one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." He was referring to the temple… The truth that Jesus spoke applies to all worldly things . They may last a long time, but eventually, they will all be gone.
Actually, reality check – not to be morbid - not only material things – but everyone – all of us – including our loved ones – are all passing. We are all just passing through in this journey of life on earth.
And - This realization causes a certain amount of anxiety about the future and it is natural and understandable. The future is full of uncertainty and if we are not careful, we can get so preoccupied with questions about the future, and therefore be filled with anxiety.
The Good News is - Through the Incarnation of God – which we will celebrate next month - God becoming One of us in Jesus Christ, God has entered time and history. Christ sheds light on the future. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end… and this sets the future in its proper context. Meaning – we now have this great hope because – in Christ - All things move toward the fulfillment of the plans and purposes of God. The end of our life story and of history belongs to God.
We cannot see very far into the future. Abraham Lincoln said “the best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” Twelve-Step programs for alcoholics prescribe “one day at a time” as the best way to managing the challenges of life. Similarly - Faith must be lived one day at a time.
Jesus’ instruction was that the disciples should live each day fully prepared for the coming of God’s kingdom. Each day is a gift from God, and we are to live each day to the fullest in service to the world in Christ’s name.
We are not guaranteed years or months or even days… Tomorrow may never come. What we have is one moment in time. It is a treasure because it will never come again. So - what we do with each moment of time is our gift to God.
When people asked Jesus for some reassurance from Him about their future, Jesus gave them one simple response. Live faithfully now and you will be prepared for whatever the future brings!
Simple practical example – Yes – you are here physically at mass - yet your mind is already pre-occupied thinking about so many other things instead of focusing on the awesome loving presence of God among us and being faithfully present before God.
Again - Live faithfully now in the present moment and you will be prepared for whatever the future brings!
Faithfulness means that we must persevere through the good and the bad, the easy and the difficult times. Living our daily life in a faithful way means that we choose to embrace whatever comes our way. We live in each moment without backing away. It is that faithfulness that will prepare us for the coming events of our lives.
Faith is not a matter of speculating about the future but living faithfully in the present moment reality. We are to live wisely and responsibly, being faithful stewards of our days, our gifts, and our opportunities. We don’t know how much time any one of us has left.
The more important question is this - Have you done your best with the gifts you’ve been given by God? If not - Then here is good news - You are still alive and therefore – it is no time for idleness. It is time to do the work of God’s kingdom.
The purpose of life – of living - is to find faithful, redemptive, loving ways to give - what we have been given - back to God. And God will make us adequate or prepared for all that lies ahead - - - until the very end.
Jesus is clear and consistent about the future. He says that it will include the good and the bad. We will have suffering and gladness. At times, we will feel extremely full and blessed, and at times we will feel so empty and abandoned. Jesus is very clear that we will not be able to predict any more than that. Fear is useless. All we need is trust… faith in God.
Admittedly, this is much easier said than done. It is easy for us to be overwhelmed by the evils of this world and so we miss the presence of God… and therefore forget that God is in control. But - Remember – God loves you - God is in control – God is in charge of everything.
Jesus said: “In this world, you will have troubles, but take heart (Do not be afraid), I have overcome the world. The victory over sin and death and victory over evil has already been won. We just have to proclaim it. God already sees us in our glorious state.
Think about this - Think of something that you are worried about that might happen in the future… that you are concerned about. Okay – Remember this – If and when that happens – God will be right there and then with you. So – why worry. Worrying about the future robs us of the grace of the present moment reality.
Again - Only if we live faithfully - in the NOW - will we be ready for whatever the future brings.
We cannot put our trust in wealth, health, possessions, beautiful buildings, in power, in weapons, etc. Our perseverance in faith, to God and one another, is what will be our saving grace. As we heard in the Gospel, “by your perseverance, you will secure your lives.”
Again – we live in these times of trials and struggles… but we are assured that they, too will all come to pass. What is being tried is our willingness to be faithful children of God. So - can we be a sign and source of hope in these times of troubles and trials and uncertainties? Can we hope, not in the signs of power or material possessions or wealth or health, but can we hope – not wishful thinking – but expectant hope -and can we be signs of faithfulness and love?
Our God is a loving Father. He has showered us with blessings beyond our perceptions and understanding. God loves us beyond our wildest imagination.
So - As we get closer to the end of the liturgical year – Feast of Christ the King next Sunday - we are challenged and asked to examine our own lives. Do we really spend enough time thanking God with our words and actions. How much time each day do we spend in prayer, how much time do we spend helping others? … instead of being so pre-occupied with self-centered things.
As we come to the table of the Lord – to receive the Body of Christ - to enter into communion with Him and with one another, let us continue to reflect and give real thought to what is happening in the world – particularly those areas where people are suffering. Let us learn from the tragedies.
May the Lord grant us the grace to set our hearts to what is eternal and everlasting. Amen.
God bless…
