Sunday Reflections

 Thirty Third Sunday of the Year – November 14, 2021

Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32

(Image Courtesy: Google)

A priest once playing tennis with a friend and during the break, their talk shifted to a more serious vein with his partner asking: “Father, suppose the end of the world suddenly came and we were out there playing, what would you do? Get down on your knees and pray?”

The priest paused for a moment and said: “I’d go right on playing.”

What he’s trying to say is that we should not worry about the end of the world. What we should worry about is that whether or not we are holding on to our Christian faith and live it to the fullest despite of many adversities.

Today when we look around the world, we see so much suffering, hardships, and pain.  There is much corruption, terrorism, and poverty.  The world experiences the hardships of what is generally termed climate change. But here we have a message of hope in the words of Jesus. We visualize the Kingdom of God that offers love, compassion, kindness, and mercy, the sign of new hope of the future. Even in the midst of suffering and hardship, the word of God continues to be alive and active.  As we wait for the fulfillment of the kingdom of God in Christ and look forward to a just, loving, and peaceful world.  In the first reading of today, we are presented with a holy person seeing the vision of God. He sees that God’s faithful people will rise to eternal life. In the second reading, we are reminded that Christ’s sacrifice has accomplished the forgiveness of all sins.  We have been consecrated to his Father and made perfect in God’s sight. Today’s gospel anticipates the dramatic events that will take place at the end times. It speaks of a time of suffering, the sun being darkened, the moon not giving its light, the stars falling from heaven, and the powers of heaven being shaken. It will be a time when heaven and earth will pass away forever.

It is very clear that no one knows when the end time will come. It is not for us to worry about that. Worrying will not help. On other hand, we should not play with life and keep putting off the day of our conversion to God. The only way is to live today and every day in his love and service. It is the present that determines the future; so let's just concentrate on the here and now. Then we already have entered the Lord's Kingdom and when, early or late, he comes to call us to himself, it will just be a reunion of old friends. In fact, he is already here and has always been and always will be. It is not that he will come to us but that we will enter into a deeper relationship with him when we pass through death to a different kind of life.

(You are most welcome to add your thoughts and reflections in the comment section below)

 

Happy Sunday