33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time C

33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C Sunday November 17, 2019 Theme: End Times Most people are so worried about end times. Because of this, many prophets have arisen. Some have given specific dates. Around the millennium year of 2000, there have been so many epidemic speculations. The more authoritarian and demanding a false messiah is the more satisfying he is to people. And if his proposed solutions are effective in the social or political realm he will be even more enticing. The disciples too were worried about predictions about the end. In our Gospel, they wanted to have a prophetic message about the destruction of the temple. Jesus gave them a prophetic picture leading to it. History tells us that it did come to pass around AD 70. This event surely has assured people that everything else Jesus predicted would also happen. There have been people in every generation since Christ’s resurrection claiming Christ will return. No one has been right yet, however, because Christ will return on God’s timetable, not ours. Jesus predicted that before his return, man believers would be misled by false teachers claiming to have revelations from God Jesus warns his listeners about the dangers about false messiahs. In times of distress people are so upset that they are readily tempted to look around them for a reassuring voice of an authoritative guide. Jesus warns his people to be on guard against those who fabricate miraculous solutions and bewitch the distressed souls; against those who make things too easy by equating the faith with their own economic and political system. False alarms are always very enticing. Beware of groups who claim special knowledge of the last days, because no one knows when that time will be. Be cautious about saying, “this is it!” but be bold in your total commitment to have your heart and life ready for Christ’s return. Instead we should be preoccupied with the question: am I ready? How can we be prepared? We must try every day to live our Christian life well and full. If we do our best to build that part of the kingdom which God expects from us here and now. We must follow the Gospel values, if we are salt to the earth and light to the world, preserving the world from every corruption, then we are going to be ready. If we pass on to others the light of faith that Christ has already lit and strive for peace and justice, watering daily the seed of love planted by Christ. The second reading warns us about those who just sit down doing nothing, just waiting for the end time. It means that we need to keep ourselves always busy though not acting as busybodies “working day and night even to the point of exhaustion” (2 Thess 3,8), in order to hasten the coming of God’s kingdom. Malachy 3:20 tells us that despite all tries, we will see “the sun of justice arise for him with its healing rays”. Even though evil seems to prosper we will triumph over them to rise with Christ by holding to love, peace and Justice. We as Christians must take to heart the consoling message of Christ. We must be active in waiting. He has given us much hope. Instead of living in fear, we must remember that Jesus promises that not one hair of our head will be harmed. Jude Thaddeus Langeh, cmf