Malachi 3:19-20; Psalm 98:5-9; 2 Thessalonians
3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19
The Church’s Liturgical Year ends next Sunday
with the celebration of the solemnity of Our Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe.
Like last Sunday, the readings of this Sunday invite us to continue our
reflection on end of time, judgement, and afterlife. The Four Last Things,
according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, are “Death, Judgement,
Heaven, and Hell.”
In the first reading, Prophet Malachi
re-emphasized some themes that run through the entire Scripture. First, those
who lived wicked lives while on earth would not go unpunished. Prophet
Malachi’s description is frightening, “the day that is coming will set them on
fire…” Second, for those who lived righteous lives, “there will arise the sun
of justice with its healing rays.”
There are people who do not believe that there
is life after death, or there is judgement and reward at the end of earthly
life. We know the fundamental truth; our actions have rewards or consequences.
Is it not foolishness to exclude this fundamental truth to what happens at the
end of our earthly life? For us who believe the Scripture, since we look
towards meeting God at the end of life, and seeing him as he truly is, let us
make the effort to live life that will lead us to him.
In the second reading, some Thessalonians
misunderstood the meaning of the second coming of Christ. They took the “coming
soon of Christ” literally; and for that reason, felt that there was no need to
work. Since “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop” they were conducting
themselves in disorderly ways. St. Paul warned them, “If anyone was unwilling
to work, neither should he eat.” It is true that there are people who want to
eat but refuse to work. There are people who reap where they did not sow. There
are people who cheat, steal, rob, and kill others to eat. It is to such people
Jesus says that they will perish, unless they repent (Luke 13:3). But for us
believers, let us fight the good fight, run the good race, keep the faith, and
wait for the crown of righteousness the Righteous Judge will award us on that
day (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
In the Gospel, Jesus prophesied about the
destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem; “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.” This prophecy, the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem
took place in 70 A.D by the Romans. We can interpret that we represent the
temple. And the truth is that at a time, every life will have an end. When we
hear about the end of the world, our immediate expectation should not be the
day when the world will come to an end. Our attention needs to be on the end of
everyone’s life which, as we know, can be at any moment. The important
questions are: Are we fighting the good fight? Are we running the good
race? Are we keeping the faith? At the end of our earthly life, St. Paul
writes, “each of us shall give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).
Jesus warned us in the Gospel about the
emergence of false prophets and fake pastors who would use the various
disasters and afflictions which occur to people and in places as weapons to
frighten and terrorize people. Jesus says, “See that you are not deceived, for
many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not
follow them….” They prophesy in Jesus’ name, cast out demons in his name, and
do mighty works in his name but they are agents of the Evil One (Matthew
7:22-23). Nowadays, false prophets and fake pastors (evil doers) are everywhere
deceiving, cheating, abusing, extorting, killing, and stealing from those who
do not listen to Jesus’ warning. Jesus encourages us that afflictions,
disasters, and persecution should lead to our giving testimony. Jesus says in
the Gospel, “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” For those who
persevere, trials are channels of blessings.
Unfortunately, some people are afraid or
reluctant to reflect about death or make some necessary preparations concerning
their death. Reluctance or fear does not remove the reality which faces all of
us; everyone will die, sooner or later. No one is sure what awaits him or her.
Philosopher Martin Heidegger says, “As soon as we are born, we are old enough
to die.” Therefore, getting oneself ready for this reality cannot be over
emphasized. Is there a Will to be written? Are there records to be made
straight? Is there information to be shared? Are there property or money to be
allocated? Are there arrangements to be made? Are there issues to be attended
to or be resolved? And so on. Physical preparation is, equally, very important
so that at the end of one’s life, those left behind are not left in the dark.
The Lord says to each one of us, “‘Behold, I
am coming like a thief.’ Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his clothes
ready, so that he may not go naked and people see him exposed” (Revelation
16:15).
Fr. Martin Eke, MSP
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