The apocalyptic message is one of hopefulness.

 

Thirty Third Sunday in OT  B  2024

Autumn now seems to be giving a hint of the winter to come. Many leaves have fallen, and others are continuing to fall.  There seems to be more cold darkness as the days grow shorter. 

Additionally, the liturgy calls us to consider the end times as we approach the end of the liturgical year.  The first reading from Daniel and the Gospel from Mark uses very apocalyptic language designed to be sensational.  “The sun will be darkened.  The stars will be falling from heaven and the power in the heavens will be shaken.” Everything is out of order, out of focus, chaotic.

The Scriptures speak of the breakdown of the stable parts of our surroundings.  Yet, apocalyptic language is a message of hope.  Why?  Because Jesus has triumphed over sin and evil.  The ultimate victory belongs to Jesus.  Even though it seems at times like our world is falling apart, for those who trust in Jesus, the message is always one of hopefulness.   To say it again, even though it seems at times like our world is falling apart, for those who trust in Jesus, the message is always one of hopefulness,

Even before the ultimate end times, all of us at one time or another experience our life being shattered.    

              --we lost our job.

--our family like is not what I would like it to be.

              --we are experiencing depression and/or anxiety.

              --we learned we or a family member were seriously ill.

              --we lost someone dear to us.

              --we may be over-joyed or we may be depressed by our election results.

Sometimes we can seem to be in an apocalyptic mood: Our world fell apart—the sun was darkened; the moon lost its brightness.  We ask ourselves:  Why doesn’t God make things easier?  WE are left wondering at times of God’s silence and his seeming indifference. 

No matter what happens, may our faith in Jesus lead us to prayer and trust: :  But you did not abandon us, Lord God.   In the midst of turmoil, we received a great grace.  We understood for the first time the meaning of our faith.  We discovered inner resources we didn’t know we had; friends rallied around us.

The faith perspective we seek is not that having faith in God is an insurance policy that guarantees that our lives will be devoid of troubles, but that having faith in God is the only thing that will get you through the troubles that come in every life.

Yes, none of us get a free pass from the crosses that come our way.  But the apocalyptic scriptures speak to us today that even in the darkest moments of life, the promise we have from Jesus is always a message of hope.  That to the dying moments of life, with our trust and faith in Jesus, the cross is our very pathway to sharing in the risen life of Jesus.

The Gospel calls us to learn a lesson from the fig tree.  Even in the midst of the deep winter of our lives, the twigs on the fig tree have become supple indicating that summer is near.  In the big picture, before this generation has passed away, new and wonderful things will have taken place.

As Bette Midler sings in THE ROSE: Just remember that far beneath the winter snow lies the seed that in the spring becomes the rose.

The central mystery of our faith is the paschal mystery:  Dying and Rising of Christ Jesus and our sharing in this paschal mystery in the dying and rising we experience.

Ultimately, we deeply believe that in dying, we are born to eternal life.  That is the meaning of our funeral liturgy in which not only celebrate the memory of the deceased, but much more importantly we celebrate that the deceased now share in the fullness of the Lord’s Risen Life.

We prepare for the last day of our life by living this day in our lives with a profound awareness of our sharing in the Lord’s paschal mystery of dying and rising this day and every day.  What do I mean by that?  Our discipleship of the Lord Jesus leads us to embrace the cross daily, be willing to die to our self-centeredness and live more fully in the service and love of others.   In so doing, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus who washed the feet of his disciples and came not to be served, but to serve.

What happens for you when the person you have championed does not get elected?

What happens when you are disillusioned by spiritual and government leaders you have trusted?

What happens for you when addiction causes you or someone you love to lose control of their lives?

What happens for you when your doctor gives you test results that leave you numb?

What happens for you when you grieve the loss of someone you love?

And so on and so on.

 

The tire hits the road in the spiritual life when we do not have all the answers to the important questions, when we are not in full control of what happens, may these moments of questioning lead us to trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

 

Lord, prayer is trusting totally in your love, knowing with unshakeable confidence that heaven and earth will certainly pass away, but your love for us will not pass away.

Why the horrible imagery of apocalyptic imagery, especially now with the beautiful season of Advent just a few weeks away?

Maybe the liturgy is such so that we might find within us a need for relief from all the turmoil.  In other words, for the coming of the simple Christ child.

Maybe we always have the courage to trust in the grace of Jesus that is given to us.

 

In the words of the prophet Jeremiah:

I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe!  Plans to give you a future full of hope.  When you call me, when you pray to me, I will listen to you and bring you back.

 

Have a Blessed Day.