Staying the Course FAITHFULLY

HOMILY: Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Luke 21: 5-19

13 November 2022

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

The end of the world. Have you stopped to wonder what that will be like? Will it be as dramatic as the explosion of the planet? Or will something happen causing the obliteration of life on the face of the earth — like the Ice Age that killed all the dinosaurs or the flood that destroyed all but those aboard Noah’s Ark? Will it mean the extinction of humanity? When will it happen? Will we still be alive by then? 

The answer to that question is: “We don’t know.” In fact, nobody knows. For centuries, doomsayers like Nostradamus have prophesied the apocalypse. Some of them have given the exact dates! I remember that people around the world feared that the world would end simultaneously with the beginning of the year 2000, or Y2K. They said the computers on which all the world’s systems heavily relied upon would reset after December 31, 1999.  These days the COVID pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War is being touted as signs of the end times.  Sa kabila ng lahat, andirito pa rin tayo sa awa ng Diyos. 

On this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus speaks of frightening visions of a cataclysmic and apocalyptic signs heralding the world’s end. The description is not a pleasant one… “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”  (Luke 21:11) Paborito itong panakot ng mga street preachers. Sa US, nakasuot pa sila ng karatula —- “Repent! The end is near!” 

Indeed, it causes many to be anxious and fearful. Ano ba ang kinatatakutan natin—ang mamamatay? Lahat naman tayo mamatay. Wala naman sa ating imortal, hindi ba?  Takot tayong mawala ang ating mga ari-arian at ang nakagisnan nating buhay? Hindi natin maaaring kalimutan na ang lahat ng tinatamasa natin ay sadyang ipinahiram lang sa atin ng Diyos Ama at anumang oras o araw, maaari Niya itong bawiin. Hindi na kailangang hintayin ang end of the world. 

Hindi tayo dapat pangunahan ng takot, lalo na at tayo ay mga Kristiyano! The Gospel is actually very encouraging towards the end. Jesus enjoins His followers not to be afraid because “not a hair on their head shall be destroyed”.  (Luke 21:18) We are called to take courage and place our faith in God. The key to securing our lives is simple — remain faithful to ways of the Lord at all times.

As Christians we understand the concept in context with the Second Coming of Jesus, where He reigns supreme over heaven and earth. It also brings into focus the final Judgment.  For all of us disciples of Jesus who have tried to live by the values of the Gospel, the end times will be the time of our vindication. Those who are good shall receive their reward while those who are evil shall receive their punishment.  It is a time when God will set all things right — there will be no more injustices, destructions, tears, and sufferings!  Hence, the end times is not some event to be feared about but rather to be welcomed. 

Yun nga lang di natin alam kung kelan magaganap ang mga pangyayaring ito. Tanging ang Diyos Ama lamang ang nakakaalam. Therefore, we should not be complacent because what is bound to happen shall come to pass. We simply have to be ready! 

It is no wonder that the apocalyptic feel of the First Reading and Gospel is tempered by St. Paul’s focus on the present. How? We hear St. Paul telling people to imitate him in not being idle. (2 Thessalonians 3:9 Huwag tayong tatamad-tamad.  By profession, St. Paul was a tent-maker. There is a danger for people to be lazy or to be hedonistic because they believe the end to be near. Meron yung mang-utang ng malaki kasi baka sakaling abutin ng end of the world at di na kailanagang magbayad! Andyan din ang gimik ng gimik. Akala mo di mauubusan ng alak at party. Nanamnamin ang sarap ng buhay bago magunaw ang mundo. Andiyan naman ang mga nagmumukmok, nade-depress at nagsisitago. Para namang mapagtataguan ang katapusan ng mundo… Remember — what must come to pass, shall come to pass. Wala tayong control doon. Hindi natin ito tuluyang mapipigilan, kaya hindi tayo dapat magpaka-stress! St. Paul shows us that our concern for the future should be grounded in the present. Live justly and righteously today! Every choice we make now holds a bearing for our eternal future. 

I remember doing a wake mass via zoom for an 86-year-old lady who died a few days after suffering a massive stroke. Prior to her stroke she kept herself busy and faithful to her daily duties. Wala siyang sinayang na oras sa buhay niya. Panatag ang kanyang pamilya na yumao siya ng walang pinagsisisihan at walang pag aagam-agam.  She lived as a good Catholic, a good daughter, wife, mother and grandmother. Every day of her life was lived in preparation for the life she hoped to have in heaven with Jesus when she died. 

This Sunday we are invited to be concerned with how we actively live our calling to be loyal sons and daughters of God our Father, rather than be paralysed by our fear of how we meet our end. The beginning and end of all life, ours included, lie solely in God’s hands.  Pray for guidance and enlightenment, hope and courage that we may not be consumed by our fears. As we strive to be consistently faithful to our Christian life, we will face many difficulties. Let us pray that we stay the course and always believe that God’s truth, goodness and justice will prevail in the end.