Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time-B
Usually, when the Evangelists record Jesus’s words, they appear to be about the coming Kingdom and how a person is to live to be a member. Today’s reading is quite different; Jesus’s words are apocalyptic, referring to the end of time.
Jesus tells his disciples that after the tribulation, “The Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.” Jesus’ message does not end there. He adds, “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Only the Father knows when the end will come, not even his Son nor his angels.
Very few passages in the scriptures show the ultimate power of God over life, as does this one. It shows us that the future is out of our control, no matter how many steps we take to control and shape it. A plan to work until such a day is derailed by a mandate to take the dubious vaccine claiming to immunize the effect of COVID. A breadwinner loses a job when a company decides to shutter the business. A tragic and unexpected illness or death forever changes the relationships within a family.
Jesus clarifies that being a disciple demands that we continually work to be ready for God’s kingdom. Many people who would hear the message of always preparing for the kingdom might find the teaching quite a burden. Some find it such a burden that they abandon the faith altogether. But for those who value their faith, the message is still difficult.
The second reading from Hebrews gives us hope. St. Paul reminds us that Jesus has assumed the real burden of our humanity through his offering on the cross: “For by one offering, he has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified.” Through Jesus, we do not have the entire burden through our efforts but rather through the power of Christ, which continuously sanctifies, renews, and shapes us to be ready for the kingdom daily.
Even with Christ’s help, we must do our part by always accepting the gifts and graces he offers. By attending Mass weekly and receiving the Body of Christ, we are already prepared for our end times. Jesus promises, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.”
If we allow Christ to sanctify us through union with him, we prudently prepare for our end time when we leave this world, but we live many end times. An end time of perhaps losing a job or loved one forever shapes our futures. Yet, through it all, we trust that whatever the future might bring, we forever have an advocate in Jesus Christ, which gives us hope God has not abandoned us.
The most significant difference between a believer and someone who does not is the peace only faith can bring. The only way to receive this peace and be prepared for the end times is to be in union with Christ. Far from a burden, it is a joy to know that God will always have our backs.