Cycle B - Year I:

14 November 2021: Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading: Daniel 12:1-3

Second Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14, 18

Gospel: Please Read Mark 13:24-32

"Getting ready and waiting in hope!"

The Church liturgical year draws to a close and today is the Thirty-third or last Sunday in Ordinary Time. The focus of the liturgy is on the end story of salvation. So the core message of this Sunday's Gospel proclamation is about interrelated events: the end of the world, the second coming of Christ, the fathering of the saved and the condemnation of the damned.

The evangelist St, Mark describes the events at the end of time using apocalyptic language, like "the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken." (Mk 13:24-25)

What is meant by the term "apocalyptic"? It is a special style of writing which uses wild images and vivid symbols in order to convey realities beyond our present human experience. The images described are not necessarily to be taken literally, but still they are relevant as they point to deeper truths.

Let us reflect on these truths that these messages on the end of time are teaching us today.

We know and believe that the world as we know and experience it will definitely end someday because God has a bigger purpose for humanity. We are not meant only for this world, and God has something much greater for us. So that whatever blessings we enjoy now in this world are only a prelude or foretaste of the blessings that the Father has in store for us in the life to come. And so also, our sufferings and trials we experience in this world are but temporary.

Our next reflection is the reality that our Lord Jesus Christ will come back the second time. St. Mark describes Jesus' second coming as "with great power and glory". At that time there will be no question who is King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus' kingdom will be brought to completion at His second coming, and so no one will ever wonder about our Lord's identity.

Then peoples of every time and place will be gathered together for final judgment. Our Lord Jesus will invite the redeemed to share in the very life that He Himself shares with the Father and the Holy Spirit. It will be a great and glorious day for Jesus' faithful followers.

But woe to those who chose until the very last moment of their earthly existence to refuse God's offer of mercy, love and new life. The Lord will take action against evildoers as well.

Now, Jesus explicitly warns His disciples that they shall not know the day or the time of the end of our world. Neither anyone of us knows. "....neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son but only the Father." (Mk 13:32) Instead, Jesus urged His followers to live and act as though judgment was always near. The timing, clearly, was not as important as the preparation.

So there is a time for judgement, in other words, and a time for trust and faith. Today we have been told the entire story, and we know that the Lord will prevail in the end. What matter is it of the time? We know the what, the where, and the why. So then knowing this we need to exercise our own judgment and discretion and frame our lives accordingly.

It's the Lord Himself who tells us today about our final destiny. Let us listen and believe. For the Lord Himself said: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." (Mk 13:31)

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!