33rd Sunday of the Year—Cycle C—2016
FIRST READING Malachi 3:19-20a
Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.
SECOND READING 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Brothers and sisters: You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others. Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food.
GOSPEL Luke 21:5-19
While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky. “Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
My sisters and brothers in the Lord,
The end of the world will happen one day. Even science admits this. But for us who believe, the end of the world means the beginning of a new world. Jesus invites us to live now in a way that will give us life in the world to come.
The first reading today is a magnificent passage from the Prophet Malachi, speaking about the destruction of evil and evildoers. Today no one wants to think about judgment and everyone presumes that God will protect bad people from the results of their bad actions. The truth is that God gives us freedom and back actions produce bad results in our world. We see this so clearly in the almost total loss of values in developed countries today.
So many people today believe that we humans can do anything and that nothing bad results from it. We don’t want to recognize any connection with the present lack of values and the many incidents of violence, the wars that are constantly about, the trafficking of humans, the breakup of families, and so on. We humans believe that we can fix everything and on our own terms.
The Scriptures, however, keep repeating this advice: live well and all shall be well. The Prophet Malachi puts it this way: “But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.”
The second reading today comes from the Second Letter to the Thessalonians. Here we encounter a situation in which some believers don’t think that they need to work anymore. Why? We are not sure, but perhaps for some of them, this attitude came from believing that the end of the world would happen immediately and there was no use in continuing to work. This Second Letter to the Thessalonians is clear: work and don’t be a burden to others.
The Gospel of Luke brings us back to thinking about the end of the world. This passage of Luke’s Gospel does not tell us anything about when the end will come. The real teaching is not about the end of the world, but about how to live in this world here and now. Even if it looks like everything is about to end, the most important aspect is for us to remain faithful to God and to God’s word. So Saint Luke tells us: “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” Perseverance in the faith, perseverance in love, perseverance in service to others. My sisters and brothers, the end does not matter! What matters is to remain faithful to Jesus and His Church through all of our difficulties.
Your brother in the Lord,
Abbot Philip