"But my words will not pass away"
Mark 13: 24 - 32
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111421.cfm
For the early Christians, the book of Daniel, from where our first reading today is taken, was extremely important. It helped them understand the person of Jesus and how he was indeed the fulfillment of the Daniel prophecies in the coming of the kingdom of God. Daniel is part of apocalyptic literature – which means literally, a “revelation” or “pulling back of the veil” which reveals something unknown before. God has revealed himself to us in the person of Jesus the Christ and made his love and mercy known. No longer does he remain the mystery that Abraham and Moses encountered. Now he comes in human flesh and blood.
We hear at this time of the Church year –
assurance and hope about the future.
Ultimately, God is in control and will triumph in the end. In fact, in
Jesus and the good news of the Gospel, that triumph is already underway.
History indicates that the world has seen the rise and the fall of many earthly
kingdoms but the kingdom of God endures. That is certain if we take the
Biblical prophecies as truth. As Daniel tell us: "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."
(12: 3)
Science has provided another certainty: what
concerns the inevitable end of the universe.
It is something we rarely worry ourselves about yet science tells us
that approximately five billion years from now the sun will expand and take
with it this earth and all the planets. What began at the moment of creation as
the “big bang” will become at the end the “big crunch.” Nothing of this world
lasts forever, including us of course. Now at nearly the end of our liturgical
year we hear, as in our Gospel, the words of Jesus: “. . . the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the
stars will fall from the sky,”(Mk 13: 24-25), so we can’t help but think in terms of what
our scientists tell us is inevitable. Some faith traditions claim it may be
according to nature’s changes – but scientists and our personal experience know
that nature always changes. Don’t worry much, though, none of us will be here
to experience this end billions of years from now.
But, we might ask “Who wants to live in
constant fear?” Jesus does not desire
that angst for us. Life is about living
after all. Jesus came to bring joy and reassurance of God’s forgiveness and
mercy as he invites us to relationship with himself, the Father and the Spirit
in spite of what cards we may be dealt. So where do we Christians stand in the
face of things that are finite? Daily, with hope and optimism.
Yet, it’s tough for us in these “politically
correct, open tolerance, alternate lifestyle, and subjective moral days” to
digest the truth of the scriptures. Yet, rather than imagine a kind of end
times destruction, the words are written to give us hope not just in to the
future but to offer us that hope in the here and the now. And as to those end times, we take heart in
Jesus’ own words: “But of that day or
hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the
Father.” (Mk 13: 32).
In the end this week’s readings assure us
that in the ultimate end of all things Christ
will be recognized as Lord of all history. But the best part of this end time’s imagery
is that Christ remains among us now. As
a people of future hope and reassurance, we are also people of present day
optimism. The truth revealed to us is
that God has claimed creation as his own and in Christ nature itself responds
in a new order to ultimate redemption. In his Church, humanly weak and in need
of reform but divinely perfect and in the constant mission of the Church and
the Gospel proclaimed we reveal this truth for the world for every generation.
So, as a Christian people we don’t lose
heart. Our faith should be stronger and
we, as Jesus reminds us, still have work to do: “This generation will not pass away until all these things have taken
place . . .” (Mk 13: 31). So, the mission of the Church and as members our
mission as well, is to gather others to Christ, to not lose hope in his
promise, to participate and to do more than just show up, to know and serve the
Lord. It’s not just words or fantasy or
fright. It is rock solid hope in Christ
who has conquered death and whose words can be trusted as truth. He has won the
final battle before it has even begun. As the words of the Third Eucharistic
prayer say: “In your compassion, O merciful Father, gather to yourself all your
children scattered throughout the world.” That all may be gathered in to
welcome the Lord.
As we enter into the mystery of the
Eucharist, let’s take heart to know that who we receive, this food for our
journey through life and the power of his Word to bring all to himself. Our Lord will come when he is sent by the
Father so may he not find us unprepared and ready to welcome him now and in the
future.
Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God,
the constant gladness of being devoted to
you,
for it is full and lasting happiness
to serve with constancy
the author of all that is good.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
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