THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY "B"

THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR “B”

 

Introduction:  In the midst of the darkness, the quaking of the heavens, and the great distress of the last days, one thing remains to give us comfort and peace: the presence of Jesus Christ. “They will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds.” Christ is the Word that will not the pass away. By virtue of that one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all whom he is sanctifying.” “The learned will shine as brightly” in the midst of darkness by clinging to this Word with full awareness, obedience and trust. As for Christ, he is now waiting “until his enemies are made into a footstool.” As for s, we wait for Jesus Christ, begging for the perfection that saves us from being enemies of God. He never fails to hear when we call. So let us call on him today to enable us become aware of his forgiveness and peace.

 

 

Cycle “B”: Mk 13, 24-32

The Homily

Three middle-aged men were having a conversation over their beer. They asked each other a question: “What would you do if your doctor told you that you had only one week left to live?” One of them pushed his beer aside and declared, “I’d prepare to meet my Maker, go into retreat, and get ready.” The 2^nd man looked at his beer and said, “I’d spend my last week eating, drinking and making merry.” The 3^rd man heartily drank his beer and said, “I’ll change my doctor.” Doctor or no doctor, each one’s time is parcelled out, and no one can make it otherwise. Queen Elizabeth I of England, on ascending the throne, asked God to give her plenty of time to rule her domains (and kill many people!). She got 40 years. But when she lay dying in 1603, she begged with her dying breath, “All my possessions for one moment of time.” She didn’t get it.  In our age, with so many activities crowded into our day, time may have become the most precious commodity in our life. Time is money for many.

Apart from commercial reasons, we need to realise that time is part of God’s creation. Depends how we make it our own, like with any gift of God. You can push people around, if you’re important; you can’t push time around, however important. God’s time scale is, like God, unimaginably enormous. There have not yet been a million days since Pentecost, the founding of the Church. We’re such a young Church, a baby Church. Christianity is not yet a million days old, although 2,000 years since Christ seem almost unimaginable. Yet scientists now call on us to think of the universe in thousands of millions of years. Compared to the age of the universe, Christianity was born just a few seconds ago. And this very short period has been marked by so much distress, both for the Church and in our own personal lives. And apart from our personal suffering and anxiety about the future, when we look at how people are treating each other; when we look at wars and massacres, and natural disasters, we begin to wonder if the end of the world is not near.

 Two things seem to emerge from the liturgy of today. First, Jesus assures us that the final end and goal of human existence on earth is the “gathering of the elect” into eternal triumph and glory. This gives us hope and meaning. Secondly, there is little point in speculating when the end will come, because Jesus tells us this is something known only by the Father. Anyone on earth who claims to have such knowledge is not to be believed!  I cannot understand certain people’s preoccupation with supposedly supernatural phenomena and earth-shattering calamities. Awesomeness, nearness, judgement. That is the logic of those who live in fear and are always asking “When will it happen?” “Is this the disaster we have been waiting for God to appear and judge the world”? The early Christians were not looking for something to happen; they were looking for Someone to come. For instance, take a modern example. Looking for the train to arrive is one thing; but eagerly waiting for someone we love to come on that train is another matter.

 What is asked of us is to be like the tender shoots of the fig tree, which break into leaf, heralding the approach of a luxuriant summer. Luxuriant fruitfulness, joy and fullness  -  these are the marks of the coming of Christ. We must plan as though Christ were coming in ten years; and we must live as though he were coming in ten seconds.

 The English word “last” or “end” is not a very true translation of the Greek word “eschaton,” used in the Gospel. The meaning is better conveyed by the idea of being “new.” So don’t talk about the “last day” and “last things,” but the “new day” and “things.” Didn’t Jesus say, “Behold, I make all things new”? With Christ there is nothing old or last, but only a continuous newness. From now on, time gets a new meaning, and our life a continuous resurrection. And, like Jesus, we too can make all things new, giving new heart to those who are worried about the future, new strength to the sick and mentally disturbed, dynamic purpose to the young people, and joyous hopefulness to the dying. Every act of generosity, every little fight for justice, every kind word, brings Jesus back to earth right now, leave alone the Second Coming.  Mother Teresa once told a foreign volunteer who wanted to stay permanently with her, “Go home and bloom where you are planted. We must do small things for one another with great love.” To another who wanted to help her, she said, “Go home to your family and see that no one is unloved.”

My dear friends, this week why not see how many times you yourself can bring Jesus back to earth? Keep an accurate count!

 

 

PRAYER:   Lord Jesus, I believe that one day you will come again in glory. Help me to be prepared to meet you at all times. Help me realise your refreshing presence not only for myself, but also specially for those who are in pain and anxiety. Renew within me a longing for you and to work to establish a new heaven and a new earth.