END TIMES

END TIMES – 33^rd Sunday Ordinary Time, Year C

            The movement from the Industrial age to the Information age, and a smaller world due to communications and technology, has brought a renewed and increased interest in the teachings of the Scriptures about the end time events of the Lord’s return, and the end of the ages. Each year the Church presents the end time teachings at the end of the liturgical year and the beginning of the new one. “Christ has died, is risen, and will come again” (Memorial Acclamation) and “He will come again in glory” (Creed), are proclaimed throughout the year.

            In connection with His teachings on the end times, Jesus announced the end of the temple, since it had fulfilled its purpose, which was the presence of God with the chosen people. Jesus was the new temple of the presence of God with people. He further established the living temple of the Church, the body of Christ, where the Spirit dwells, and continues the presence of God with the chosen people until the end of the ages.

            When Jesus proclaimed the destruction of the temple, the disciples asked when it would happen. In answer, the Lord told them not to be overly disturbed with great changes and signs, but to be concerned not to lose faith in Him or to be misled by false messiahs announcing the end of the ages and His return. In every age, some are led by their own spirits, and not necessarily by the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the end of the world and the Lord’s return. Jesus said great events such as wars and insurrections, earthquakes, plagues, famines, which have been happening in every age of humankind, will come before the end. He mentioned “…awesome sights and mighty signs…” in the sky, which will make the Lord’s return clear to everyone.

            Every age of the Church is to be ready for the Lord’s return. And every age is to respond to the Lord present and always coming through the Spirit in various ways to prepare for the visible return of the Risen Lord. The Spirit’s work of the reign of God on the earth will be completed before the visible return of Jesus. There appears to be considerable work to be done yet in the world by the Spirit and Jesus’ followers before the Lord’s second coming. When the end will come and how it will come about is known only to God Himself. We believe it in faith.

            By living His life by the Spirit, the Church experiences in every age what Jesus Himself experienced. “Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of My Name.” We live in the greatest age of persecution in the history of the Church. This is due to the spread of the Church. As the Church grows and spreads, as it is destined, to the ends of the earth, persecution and the number of martyrs increases. That makes this the greatest age in the life of the Church. The Church grows on the life blood of martyrs and persecutions in living by the Cross of Jesus.

            Our nation has not experienced political religious persecution on the scale that people behind the Iron Curtain of the Soviet Union have. The persecution of Christians in our nation is more hidden; and for that reason, perhaps just as dangerous. Many experience opposition and persecution from their families. “You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.” Some resistance, opposition and persecution can be expected by anyone living their faith.

            The greater the commitment to the faith, the more one may become aware of persecution on different levels. The support of the “…sun of justice with its healing rays” and the strength and guidance of the Spirit is promised to those who witness to their faith in word and deed. “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

            The Lord never said it would be easy. He did promise us His help. “Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I Myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.” Psalm 98 proclaims: “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice”.

Reflection from Divine Mercy #897

“Before we go to our Homeland, we must fulfill the will of God on earth; that is, trials and struggles must run their full course in us.”