This week is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. We are coming to the end of the Liturgical Year of the Church. Next Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday of Ordinary Time. Advent begins in two weeks to prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ. The green banners on the altar and vestments of Ordinary Time will then give way to the color purple of Advent.
During these Sundays we hear Christ speak about the end times. He does so to reassure us of our final destiny of eternal glory. Unfortunately, the end of the world has caused fear in the hearts of many. There have been numerous predictions about when the end will come. Some people spend most of their energies on this topic.
Christ's return at the end of time certainly is a truth of the authentic Catholic Faith. We declare in the Creed, "Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead." At Mass we proclaim: "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.” But even though this is an integral part of our belief, we are not to obsess about the exact time, for Christ clearly states, "As to the exact day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor even the Son, but only the Father" (Mark 13:32).
Jesus wants us to be vigilant at all times. He is waiting for the return of the Master who desires to glorify us. The choice of our final destiny of heaven is ours. We must grow in our choice of following Christ by deepening our faith in him and living it out each day. When He is coming, Jesus wants us to be concerned about how we are living each day.
Waiting in faith and hope in Jesus Christ gives me a security that my last day here on earth will open to me the reality of an eternal life of glory with him…"even though the mountains may fall, and the hills be shaken…!” (Isaiah 54:10). I cannot know for certain when that inevitable day will come. The Father in his wisdom desires to keep that knowledge to himself. I must trust in his wisdom, this is the best for me.
Let us pray for each other. God bless!