Nov142016

Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

In the First Reading (Malachi) and Gospel (St. Luke) for the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, we have reference to the “end times”. In the Gospel Jesus states, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” The Gospel is part of Jesus' eschatological discourse which links together the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and the events of the end signaling his return to earth. Jesus tells his listeners that when all of this happens do not lose hope because, “by your endurance you will gain your souls.” In the First Reading the prophet Malachi speaks about judgement day and how God will separate the evil doers from the righteous. The Nicene Creed that we recite at Mass states, “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end.” Our Church teaches us that at the moment of death each person will have to stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account of his or her life. This is called the “particular judgement” because it is particular to each person. When Jesus comes again at the end of time there will be a “last judgement” that will reveal to its fullest consequence the good each person has done or failed to do on earth. (CCC 1039) For those who have already received their judgment, it will stand. Those living at the time of the Second Coming will receive their judgment at that time. What we do here on earth does have eternal consequences so we need to work at our salvation. This should not cause distress because Jesus states, “by your endurance you will gain your souls.” I wish to conclude with an insight from Archbishop Fulton Sheen, “For when the curtain goes down on the last day, and we respond to the curtain call of judgment, we will not be asked what part we played, but how well we played the part that was assigned to us” (Moods and Truths, 75). Photo Credits: Stefan Lochner (circa 1400/1410"1451). Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Category: Publications

Posted by: Margaret