Holding on to the Word

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Nov. 15, 2009 (Mk 13:24-32)

"In the days after that time of trouble the sun will grow dark, the moon will no longer shine, the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers in space will be driven from their courses. Then the Son of Man will appear, coming in the clouds with great power and glory. He will send the angels out to the four corners of the earth to gather God's chosen people from one end of the world to the other.

"Let the fig tree teach you a lesson. When its branches become green and tender and it starts putting out leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that the time is near, ready to begin. Remember that all these things will happen before the people now living have all died. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

"No one knows, however, when that day or hour will come - neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son; only the Father knows.

Jesus warns us to be ready for "the hour" of judgment. He tells to learn to read the signs of the times, as we are able to read the signs of nature.

Today, we give much value to the things of this world. We are afraid to die because to die means to let go of this world, to let go of the things or of the people we hold dear. We are losing the sense of the spiritual. We are becoming too materialistic that we forget to prepare for the world that is to come. We call on God only for our worldly needs. We forget to pray for spiritual health, for a better relationship with God and for salvation.

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away", said the Lord in our Gospel today. With these words, he reminds us that everything is ephemeral. Everything in this world will pass away. Only God is eternal.

In our desire to find happiness, we should seek that which shall remain. We can never find happiness in things that will pass away. Therefore, we should seek God. We should find comfort in His Word. His words should be our guide as we take this journey we call life.

Many people are rejecting God's Word today. They say God's commands no longer fit the needs of the times. But, as faithful Christians, we should hold on to the words of our Lord and God. We should hold on to Him because His Word is truth and His words are the words of everlasting life (Jn 6:68).

Therefore, we should live according to God's commands and according to the laws of the Church, the authority in interpreting God's Word. Others might call us conservative, but is it wrong to hold on to what can save us?

Only if we hold on to Jesus' Word can we say that we are ready for the end of the world. Even if we do not know the day or the hour of judgment, we have no reason to fear that day if we hold on to Christ. We shall not even fear death if we're with Him. Truly, if God is with us, who can be against us (Rom 8:31)? Whom shall we fear (Ps 27:1)?

Jesus, A Different Kind of King

Solemnity of Christ the King Nov. 23, 2008 (Mt 25:31-46)

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Jesus Christ is the Universal King. When He was resurrected, He was glorified by the Father and, in the end of time, He shall assemble and judge all nations. But looking back at Jesus' life here on earth, He appears to be a different kind of king.

Jesus was born in a manger, not in a palace or even somewhere fitting for humans. He was visited by lowly shepherds and wise pagan men, not by Jewish religious leaders and political giants. He was crowned with thorns and adorned with wounds, not with a gold crown and with precious stones. He was exalted on a cross, not on a throne. He was mocked and was considered a criminal, an enemy of the state and of religion. Jesus is very different from what we consider a powerful king. He Himself confirmed this when He said, "My Kingdom is not of this world." (Jn 18:36).

Jesus is a king who comes to us, His people. He is a king who is loving enough to dwell among us, becoming like us in all things but sin. He is a king who, wanting to save us, extended His hands and allowed them to be pierced by nails and be crucified. He "did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mk 10:45).

Because He obeyed the will of the Father, He was resurrected and glorified. After forty days, He ascended into heaven, leaving behind a cloud of witnesses with a world-shaking story of Divine love. He is destined to come back and judge all nations, as our Gospel shows us.

It is noteworthy that Jesus, as the Gospel tells us, will not judge us according to worldly achievements. Neither will He judge us according to how much we know God. He will judge us according to our actions. He identifies Himself with the poor and those in great need.

Non-Catholics argue that faith alone is enough for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Our Gospel for today proves otherwise. The failure to translate into action our faith and love brings condemnation. What is faith if it is not accompanied by good deeds? Many people claim to be Christians but are indifferent to the poor, not even remembering them in their prayers. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my heavenly Father." (Mt 7:21). Saint James reminds us that "faith, if without works, is dead." (Jas 2:17).

Let us, therefore, be obedient to our King. Let us live according to His will and we will be happy - eternally happy. His Kingdom has come to us, although not entirely. It is up to us, His people and brethren, to build His Kingdom here on earth. Let love for each other, especially for the poor, be the foundation of this Kingdom.