Today is the thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Each November, and even early December, we hear about the end times. Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel that even He doesn’t know when that will happen. I think that was a concession to His human side at the time.
For us, we have to think about these things each year, maybe more frequently, and decide what it means to us today that the world, and we, will pass away one day. We’re told to stay awake, be vigilant, be aware, and read the signs of the times.
We know there will be wars and rumors of wars, false prophets, etc. in the real end times but I think we could just about choose any point in time and find those things, not just now. The point for us is to always be prepared for the end. Momento mori, remember our death, is good advice, though we shouldn’t dwell on it.
We need to make sure we don’t get distracted from what’s most important, being ready to meet Jesus or for His return before we die. It’s easy to get distracted. I feel like all the political turmoil we’ve seen, and yet to come, is a way to distract us. If you were Satan, after all, wouldn’t you want to turn people away from God and turn them against one another? Certainly there are substantive differences between people of good will that can’t be papered over. I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about the ugliness in our society and world that seems to be engulfing us. We have to turn away from that while still holding on to our beliefs about how to make our world a better place for all of us.
As we consider the end times let us also consider that for the past couple of thousand years people have been considering the same thing and it hasn’t happened yet. It will happen but it hasn’t. Let’s all prepare for when it does happen but let’s also think about the kind of world we want to live in, and our children and grandchildren, while we wait.
We have to continue to love God and love one another. We have to obey Jesus’ commandments about love and forgiveness and caring for the other.
Don’t let the craziness of our current world distract you from those most important things. That only benefits the Evil One.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
I hope you have a great week.
Peace, Bob
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