Our readings today are truly frightening, for they look ahead to the end of the world and the second coming of our Lord, “The day is coming,” Malachi prophesied. “The days will come,” Jesus warned. Sometimes it feels like the days they anticipated are right around the corner. A pandemic, political and civil unrest, global warming, natural disasters and wars - a warning that the end of the world has arrived doesn’t seem so farfetched. Yet it wouldn’t have been a surprise a year ago either or at various other points over the last few years. So when we hear someone say, “The time has come,” recall Jesus’ words of wisdom: “Do not follow them!” There will always be those who will exploit fear for their own ends, who will vilify whoever opposes them, who will try to divide us from each other, and who will insist that they alone know the truth. Do not follow them. No, we know whom we can trust and always follow. And, as the one who is the way, the truth and the life assured us, “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” We should not be thinking of the end as a time that’s approaching like the stroke of midnight. It is a time that comes when it comes, inevitably and unpredictably, like a thief in the night.
So what do we do? Shrivel up in despair, afraid to act? No, we are called to act with urgency, persevering in the mission of a disciple, working to bring the reign of God to function in our imperfect world.
Love, Peace, Joy,
Fr. Bob
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