For the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time…
“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….” Luke 21:9-11
For centuries, Christians have pondered the timing of the end of the world and the Second Coming of Christ. This Sunday’s Gospel from St. Luke offers horrifying and scary happenings and extremely difficult circumstances, and yet…
Jesus says: “By your perseverance you will secure your lives” (v. 19).
This is the week before the culmination of the Church Year, and so the readings point out, soberly, the words of Jesus, that remind us, yes, there is evil and fury and even turmoil beyond what we can imagine. But we are to choose Christ, and Christ’s way, and his promises. Redemption is at hand.
Next week, we welcome the conclusion of the Church Year: Christ the King of the Universe is coming, and to his reign there will be no end.
Lord Jesus, may we have the perseverance to listen to you always, and by your graces, merit your eternal Kingdom.
