Gospel Reflection for 13th November

The 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Times – Endings and Beginnings…

The end of the current liturgical year is almost here. Next Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of Christ the King and after that the season Advent begins. In the gospel this Sunday a group stand in the Temple admiring its fine art work and beautiful architecture. Never one to temper his words, Jesus interrupts their conversation with a single but startling comment, ‘all these things you are staring at now, the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another; everything will be destroyed.’ Not the most comforting of words from Jesus! He continues speaking to them by listing all the terrible things that are going to happen; people will deceive them, there will be wars, earthquakes and revolutions. People will be arrested and imprisoned.

Perhaps when we today look at the television and read the newspapers we might be tempted to believe that everything Jesus said has actually come true. We know that earthquakes and others natural disasters have claimed countless lives recently. There are parts of our modern world that are constantly in a state of war, violence and conflict. While all this happening around us, we know that they do not mean that the world is ending. So what are we to make of the words and warning from Jesus and the situation in which we find ourselves in today’s world?

In our everyday living we tend to become caught up in what is immediate and what satisfies our present needs. While Jesus challenges us to look beyond these basic needs, he also encourages us to stand firm in our faith and persevere. Jesus never said that believing in him and following him would be easy. There are times and experiences in all our lives that are painful and difficult. These are times when Jesus asks us not just to rely on ourselves, but to look to him for strength. No matter what we suffer and endure, not a hair on your will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.’

Jesus reminds that we are to find meaning in this life now, and secure everlasting life by being faithful to him. Through our perseverance we discover that what we believed to be the end is actually and new beginning; God’s gift of everlasting life to those who do their best to be faithful in the face of daily struggles and setbacks.

While we live in and enjoy this life, let us not take our eyes off Jesus, nor forget that he is with is with us no matter what we go through.

• Michael Moore OMI