PASSAGES: Malachi 3:19-20; 2Thess. 3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19
As we
draw close to the end of the liturgical year, the church draws our attention to
the end of the world and the last things. Today let us reflect on the meaning
of life and the purpose of our existence; what becomes of us when our earthly
abode is destroyed. We are called upon to look beyond our immediate
preoccupation with our worries, sorrows, troubles, joys and pleasures in this
passing life and place ourselves in eschatological reflection (meditating for a while on the four last
things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell).
The first
reading gives us a little picture of how the end shall be. It will favor the upright
and disaster shall be the lot of evil doers. “See, the day is coming, burning
like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day
that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave
them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of
righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings”. There is no gainsaying
the fact that all shall die. But the pertinent question is: shall all rise
again?
Death puts to an end all our earthly plans and
aspirations. With the call of death, every material possession varnishes in a
twinkle of an eye. All our works, academic degrees, estates, business empires, church
titles, social and traditional accolades, all cosmetic makeup, all cars and
jets are rendered useless and meaningless. The soul is separated from the body.
It leaves the spatio-temporal axis and enters into another level of existence
beyond space and time. It is wisdom to pay much attention to the soul than to a
perishable body.
When is the world coming to an end? (Lk 21:7).
There is hardly any generation that did not think the possibility of the world
ending in their time. With the rate of immorality, corruption, wars, man-made
and natural disasters in one time, one might begin to think the end of the
world prophecies coming to fulfillment. There were various sects and groups and
doomsday prophets who claim to know the exact date of the Lord’s coming. And
the failure of previous predictions does not appear to discourage them from
setting yet another date for the doomsday. Their predictions were hoaxed by the
passage of time. In some cases, when the end did not come as they expected,
they decided to end it by themselves; there were mass suicides. Jesus warned
against such predictions. He said “no man knows, not even the son, but the Father
only”.
"Beware
that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!'
and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them.” (Lk. 21:8). This prophecy has
come to fulfillment with the high rate of proliferation of churches today.
Today, we have a plethora of church business centers founded by con-masters and
hypnotists who claim to come in the name of Christ to deceive those who to seek
for miracle rather than salvation. Christ wants us to put up some attitudes as we
wait in hope for his second coming. Firstly, we should not be afraid. "When
you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must
take place first, but the end will not follow immediately" (Lk. 21:9). We see change in weather and atmosphere resulting
from the bad condition of the ozone layer, global warming and greenhouse
effect. The Lord said we should not be alarmed by these. If we love God, we
should not be worried about these. Perfect love casts out all fears. If you are
doing the will of God and walk in holiness you have to reason to tremble or
worry about the end of the world because you are safe.
Secondly,
we should persevere in hope. “By your endurance you will gain your souls” (Lk.
21:19). Many Christians move from place to place in search of solutions. This waka-waka
syndrome is a clear sign of a faithless generation. As we persevere, we should not
also fold our hands in laziness waiting for the parousia (the second coming). This was actually the context in
which the second letter to Thessalonians was written. The Thessalonians thought
that the second coming was immediate so they neglected their duties, gave up
business and house chores. This made them lazy. So, St. Paul wrote them with
this popular injunction: “Anyone unwilling to work should not eat” (2Thess.
3:10).
Finally,
we should use our time wisely. Indeed, the time is short and the judgment day
is near. Time is the most precious treasure in the world that cannot be saved
but can only be used wisely and well. Each time is very unique and
unrepeatable. “No one can make a day last longer nor any person reduce its
length. Each person has only two choices: either waste the time in hand or
sensibly, fruitfully, use it!” I drop this poem on the bottom line:
USE TIME WISELY
Use your time for
love and not hate
We know not what
shall be our fate
Use your time for
peace and not fight
In the end we
shall know who’s right
When all around
you is in pain
What shall in the
end be your gain
On every face you see
put a smile
This will change a
life in awhile
In the life across
never lose sight
Where all the night
shall be bright
All reward shall
be your hope
With this I know
you can cope
Use Your Time!
