In going through eight years of seminary, you’d imagine that we get quite ready, by the time it is over, to jump out and leave. And, indeed, that was my perspective as well whenever I finally reached my deacon year- which was my final and eighth year. We had gone into that year, starting in 2019 with it seeming like any other year. We had a lot of things to be excited about and a lot of experiences on our last lap through. How we were going to practice praying the Mass. Practice confessions. Experience the fanfare of graduation. All sorts of different things that were going to be a joy!
Yet, all of that was cut very short. In March of 2020, we are all very aware of what happened. Even the seminary was not immune to shutting down at that time, and we were all sent home, some to our diocese, some to parishes, and some simply back home to their families. It was deeply unexpected, and so there was a lot of disappointment. Those of us who were deacons were told to pack our things and plan on never coming back. It was shocking to us, and a lot of those celebrations we had planned were cut short. The end had indeed come much more quickly than we expected.
We are quickly moving towards the new liturgical year, which means naturally we are focusing on the end times. We are at the moment where we are invited to think about the end things- when our temporal life on this earth ends. Much like seminary, we know that we will reach a point where it concludes, but the question to consider: will we each be ready when that moment comes- even if it comes at an unexpected time?
To help us consider these end times, and what they mean, we can start off with the book of the prophet Malachi. He actually sets this up as two opposing reactions to the same thing- which may be best described as the sun. The first group that he addresses in detail is the ones that he calls the “proud and the doers of evil.” This group is warned very vividly about the coming day of the Lord- which will be blazing as an oven. It appears that this group will not fare very well in the midst of this warmth, because it is going to be something of an inferno, and therefore, they will be burnt, until nothing remains, as we are told in the reading. That is only the first group, however!
The second group is very much different. While they experience a sun of sorts, it is the “sun of justice with its healing rays.” This is something that sounds altogether different- and a far cry from the experience that the other proud and doers of evil would have. While this sun is tormenting to one, it is very healing and calming to another.
The second reading is taken from the second letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians. This reading comes into a church that is very energetic for the faith, but you get this feeling that, perhaps, they have slackened, and started to rest without considering much of the faith at this time. Perhaps they just feel secure where they are. Nonetheless, what Saint Paul sees this as is an opportunity to speak to them about the need to first, follow his example that he provided, but second, to go about their work with due diligence. This is a qualified sort of work, because it is not about looking busy, but truly doing the work that is necessary for salvation, and for the building up of the kingdom of God. He reminds them to be well-ordered, and to work as to eat as well, so as to live in a way of justice.
Finally, we heard from the Gospel according to Luke. This particular Gospel points to a very stark reality of the temporal nature of this earth. Jesus is there in the midst of the crowds that are talking about how the temple is adorned with costly stones, and how it appears in such splendor! It truly is a marvel to behold! However, Jesus speaks to them in a very candid way and reminds them “There will be a day when there is not another stone left upon another.” Immediately when they receive this warning, suddenly the people don’t feel so good about the appearance, and begin to worry- “teacher, when will this happen?!”
Jesus then switches this into an opportunity to warn them about the false prophets of their time. It is something of a marvel that He walks through and warns them that there will be all sorts of individuals that claim to be prophets either in name or in subject of the end of time- and they will not actually be those prophets. Yet, there is more to the picture as well. Jesus reminds them of all of these terrible sights and wonders that may occur, and He gives them this insight that they will indeed happen. Wars. Nations rising against nations. Earthquakes. Famines. All of these things will happen, but Jesus has a simple response: “it will not immediately be the end.”
Yet, it doesn’t just stop there, does it? He goes on and speaks about the way that families will turn on other family members, and then they will be handed over before all sorts of temporal powers. They will be persecuted in the name of Jesus, but even in the face of such adversity, there will still be the Holy Spirit with them, as they can speak words of wisdom that the temporal powers will be unable to refute. We are told “you will be hated by all because of my name.” Yet, at the end, there is a key phrase. “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
You will secure your lives.
Yet, we should return to that initial question- when that day comes, will we be ready?
By the first reading, we can deduce that the end time is coming. We are told that they day of the Lord is coming, and it would be like a blazing oven. This is a good and a bad thing, depending on how an individual takes it. Yet, we should take that sort of warning, because we are told that the just will not be harmed on that day, but if we choose to live in view of the end of time, we will not endure something that is terrible, but rather something truly wonderful. We know that day is coming, but we still don’t know when it is.
We should also not be fooled into thinking this life is going to be easy. We are told about the end times, but notice, Jesus is warning about all of these hard times even before the end. In some cases, this would be easy to deal with, because they afflict all of us equally. Famine. Earthquakes. War. Awesome signs. These things will happen, but there are other things that would perhaps be more painful to us. Persecution. Betrayal. Being forced to speak before temporal rulers. That isn’t meant to scare a person senseless, but rather, it is here to give a powerful moment to consider the reality- being a follower of Jesus Christ is not always going to be easy. Nonetheless, when it comes down to being in the face of persecution- will we still be strong enough to say that we believe? Will we still undergo affliction for the name of Jesus?
Finally, we can arrive back at Saint Paul and his Second Letter to the Thessalonians. He gives that simple reminder that those in the Church of Thessalonica need to work and to stay truly busy. They need to work in virtue, and to grow as individuals in their faith. This is actually something very practical for us. We know the end is coming, whether just for each of us, or even perhaps for all of us at once. That fact doesn’t necessarily need to frighten us at all. Rather, what it should do is encourage us along- how are we going to chose to live life now? Are we preparing well? We should look for every chance and opportunity to make ready for the day of the Lord now! Are there old grudges that need to be let go of? Are we attached too much to earthly things? Are there practices we wish we were doing but aren’t yet? Now is the time!
Seminary came to a very quick and unexpected end for me. That isn’t to say it was a bad thing, because we were all working to be ready. What truly mattered was that we were alert and paying attention for that day.
Brothers and sisters, let us live lives that are alert and attentive to the end now, so that when that time comes- we will have persevered and secured our lives, not just now, but in the time to come.
