Malachi 3:19-20; Psalms 97(98); 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19
Before that day
Dear friends, today is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Next Sunday will be the Feast of Christ the King and the end of the liturgical year. During the Ordinary Season, we learn about the Kingdom of God and what is required of us to inherit it. Towards the end of the season, the readings focus on the end of times and that day when we will all be required to render an account of our lives, first as humans and second as believers.
The first reading describes that day as a burning furnace that will consume the arrogant like stubble. However, for the righteous, that day will bring healing and restoration. Our attitude toward the Kingdom of God will determine whether we rejoice or weep when that day comes. The lack of fear of God by the few mighty in the world is the root cause of the evil that torments many lowly.
In Scripture, the “fear of God” does not mean terror but reverence, awe, and recognition of God’s authority. It leads to wisdom, moral responsibility, and respect for the dignity of others (cf. Proverbs 1:7). When this sense of reverence disappears, several consequences tend to emerge in society: a loss of moral anchors where moral decisions are left to personal preferences and fashion; a lack of objectivity in action; increased corruption and dishonesty; misuse of power and authority; a breakdown of family and community values; disregard for human dignity and the sanctity of life; social injustices; a rise in anxiety, emptiness, and loss of meaning in life; social instability and violence; decrease in compassion, humanness, and solidarity among others. Do you think that there is “fear of God” in the community where you live?
During the time of St. Paul, numerous false prophets emerged and began preaching about the end of the world. They went around Thessalonica, instilling fear in people and demanding sustenance from them. St. Paul is distancing himself from such people and stating that no one should be given food without work.
When society lacks spiritual direction, people become vulnerable to false prophets who take advantage of the situation to amass wealth in the name of offerings. They do not have any occupations; rather, they use the holy books to extort money from both the wealthy and the suffering. These are very good at reading the situations and twisting them to suit their agenda. Preaching for them becomes an easy way to make money without paying taxes. Have you been a victim of such preachers?
Instead of proper catechesis to instill positive transformation in individuals and society at large to foster peace, love, and justice, many religious leaders have turned into merchants of falsehood about the Kingdom of God, stage-managed miracles, and fortune-telling to woo followers. The Gospel of repentance and responsibility is out of fashion. Many politicians and the wealthy shun institutionalized religions, where there are roles and protocols, for the populist denominations, where no one follows how they lead their lives after worship. They prefer populist preachers, occasional healers, and visiting miracle workers.
In the Gospel passage, Jesus warns us not to be deceived or frightened by such false prophets who even at times claim to be Him. The way they instill fear in people, one would think that they will be part of the jury on Judgment Day. Surprisingly, many rich and powerful people who are afraid or unprepared to die, as well as the poor who are afraid of hard work, are turning to them for divine protection or quick wealth, respectively.
Salvation is not a commodity that we can buy with money or tears. It is a process of positive transformation into the image of God that begins with baptism and ends with Judgement. How we lead our lives in between is what will determine our fate when that day comes.
Dear friends, as we conclude this liturgical year, I invite you to look back and see what improvements we have made in our lives through the help of scriptural lessons. Let us also prepare to start the coming liturgical year A with the resolve to be better learners.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 