Like last weekend, this week’s readings leading to the end of our liturgical year are about end times. We hear the Prophet Malachi and our Lord Jesus in today’s Gospel paint for us terrible images of what will come at the end of time. Scary writing; it should stop you in your tracks! They both give us good advice, though. Malachi says that for those always keep God present there “will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.” Jesus tells us: “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
We are “counseled” by Jesus in three ways: (1) Live in His name—it gives you the strength to stand up to the worst that is offered in life; (2) Do not fear! If we are hated for his sake, then we are blessed, as there is nothing to fear if we are reconciled to Him; and (3) we will be rewarded for our perseverance in the face of turmoil with the grace and the gift of His wisdom.
So what is this perseverance? Basically it means to keep your eyes on God in all you say and in all you do: to witness your faith belief. St. Paul has a bit of advice this weekend for the Thessalonians and for us, too. He talks about working for the kingdom, not burdening others, keep your nose clean, and very important: MYOB, mind your own business!
We have heard in the Word that we do not know when the end will be: either our own personal, physical end on earth, or the end of the world when Jesus will come in glory. As the faithful, we know, however, that the end times will be a happy ending in spite of the terrifying images we hear about today. This is because of our covenant with God. Nevertheless, we have to do our part in this covenant. I’ve written this old saying before: “Just because God gives every bird a worm, he does not throw it in the nest!”
It is really very simple: follow the advice you hear today, but—Be Not Afraid; Awake, O Sleeper and Sing a New Song to the Lord, because the end times will be happy times for us since we have already been saved! As faith filled and faithful Christians we can stand secure in the knowledge of our happy ending and our place at the table in heaven.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
We are “counseled” by Jesus in three ways: (1) Live in His name—it gives you the strength to stand up to the worst that is offered in life; (2) Do not fear! If we are hated for his sake, then we are blessed, as there is nothing to fear if we are reconciled to Him; and (3) we will be rewarded for our perseverance in the face of turmoil with the grace and the gift of His wisdom.
So what is this perseverance? Basically it means to keep your eyes on God in all you say and in all you do: to witness your faith belief. St. Paul has a bit of advice this weekend for the Thessalonians and for us, too. He talks about working for the kingdom, not burdening others, keep your nose clean, and very important: MYOB, mind your own business!
We have heard in the Word that we do not know when the end will be: either our own personal, physical end on earth, or the end of the world when Jesus will come in glory. As the faithful, we know, however, that the end times will be a happy ending in spite of the terrifying images we hear about today. This is because of our covenant with God. Nevertheless, we have to do our part in this covenant. I’ve written this old saying before: “Just because God gives every bird a worm, he does not throw it in the nest!”
It is really very simple: follow the advice you hear today, but—Be Not Afraid; Awake, O Sleeper and Sing a New Song to the Lord, because the end times will be happy times for us since we have already been saved! As faith filled and faithful Christians we can stand secure in the knowledge of our happy ending and our place at the table in heaven.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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