MY WORDS WILL REMAIN

THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY YEAR B

MY WORDS WILL REMAIN

Thanks to the writer of the gospel, the words of the Lord remain with us to the very day. They are with us to teach us, to guide us, to inspire us, to comfort us, and to challenge us. How do we listen to his words, and how hard do we try to practice them in our lives?

First Reading (Dan 12:1-3). This is of a vision of the prophet Daniel about the end of time. It introduces the belief in resurrection of the dead and the retribution after death.

Second Reading (Heb 10:11-14, 18). This reading insists on the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice over the sacrifices of the old law.

Third Reading - Gospel - (Mk 13:24-32). This talks about the second coming of Christ, the time of which id s known only by God.

“A right is worth fighting for only when it can be put into operation” –

- Woodrow Wilson -

THE END OF THE WORLD

A woman was hurrying home from work. This was her bingo night. Suddenly she spots the fellow standing in the edge of the pavement holding a loft a placard which read: THE END OF THE WORLD IS NEAR. She went up to him and said, ‘you say the end of the world is near’

‘That is right Musoke,’ he replied

‘But are you sure?’

‘Quite sure, Musoke’

‘And you say it is near.’

‘Yes, Musoke’

‘How near?’

‘could you be more please?’

‘This is very right, Musoke.’

She paused for a moment to reflect on this. Then in a voice full of anxiety, she asked, tell me, son, will it be very uncertain one. It seems to come from one crisis to another. This uncertainty can cause great fear and anxiety in the midst of this uncertain and changing world, we need something solid to rely on. For Christians that can mean only one thing; faith in God. The Psalm of the coming Sunday Mass put it like this: ‘I keep the lord ever in my sight; since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.’ And of course we have the words of Jesus: “heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” This is all we have. But then this is all we need. The assurance that things are in God’s hand, that his plan for us and the word will be fulfilled. Christ will reign with him in everlasting life. Many people have claimed to know when the end of the world will come and some claim a special revelation from God or Mary, and others claim to have calculated it from the Bible. All such claims should be ignored.

Today’s gospel gives us a timely message about the end of the world. Jesus tells us that no one knows when the end will come except the heavenly Father. And with regard to the end, we should be hopeful. God made us for salvation not damnation. Faith gives us the conviction that the world is not heading towards final, irreversible catastrophe. Nor is it heading towards mere ending. It’s headed towards fulfillment. By his faster victory Jesus has triumphed over evil and death. We should worry more about of our own individual world at death, which is certain, than about the end of the whole world which is out of our hands.

PRAYER OF TRUST

Preserve me God, I take refuge in you.

My happiness lies in you alone

You are my portion and cup.

You yourself are my prize.

I keep you ever in my sight,

Even at night you direct my heart.

With you at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad.

For you will not leave my soul among the dead,

Nor let your beloved know decay.

You will show me the path of life,

The fullness of joy in your presence,

At your right hand happiness forever.

Psalm 15

No one can have peace longer than his neighbour pleases

(Dutch proverb)