33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2018 – End Times

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Readings: Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32

“At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people.”  (Daniel 12:1)  For many the thought of the end time is coupled with fear; fear of unsurpassed distress and fear of the final judgment.  The prophet Daniel in our first reading receives a clear message from the Lord that confirms it will be a time of great distress, but also promised, is a guardian who will arise to protect us.  It will be a time of separation, the justified from the accursed that refused to love.  Those inscribed in the book, those who lead many to justice will shine like stars forever, but who are they?

Who are the ones who work for justice today?  Pope Paul VI proclaimed that “If you want Peace, Work for Justice.”  Saint Oscar Romero, a martyr for justice in El Salvador, Central America, went further when he wrote, “Peace is a product of justice, but justice is not enough.  Love is necessary.  The love that makes us feel that we are a family is properly what makes for true peace.”  What is called the Kingdom of God has also been called the ‘Commonwealth of love and justice,’ which indicates that love and true justice are inseparable.  (James W. Fowler, Becoming Adult, Becoming Christian)

If you are worried about judgment day and what will be the criteria for acceptance into the Kingdom read the Parable of the Last Judgment.  (Matthew 25: 31-46)  In the parable, Jesus lays out what will be the determining factor for acceptance into the Kingdom.  As you will come to understand through a critical reading of this central parable in the bible, you will discover the important aspect of the Kingdom of God is that it is not only about the future, it is something we are to begin working on in the present.  If the future and the present kingdom is about love and justice and if the future heaven is about love and justice, what am I doing now, to promote love and justice on earth?  This parable reveals that we promote the kingdom when we care for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the stranger, and those in prison.  Building the Kingdom in our present life is the basis for being invited into the Kingdom in our future life.  Caring for the least among us shows how much we love our neighbor and it is where we encounter Jesus.  In this context, Love is not a feeling; love is an action in the interest of the other.  True love means putting the needs of another ahead of our own needs and in this way, it is a sacrificial action.  In our Catholic faith, the building of the Kingdom of God on earth is formalized in what is called Catholic Social Teaching.

Catholic Social Teaching is comprised of seven themes:

  1. Life and the Dignity of the Human Person:  Protection of life does not end with birth.  This theme is a ‘seamless garment’ that holds all lives as sacred from conception, to cradle, and to the grave.

  1. Call to Family, Community, and Participation:  This theme recognizes that we are both sacred and social.  How we organize; economics, politics, in law and policy – directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to thrive.  Marriage is the central social institution and must be supported and strengthened.  There is a right and duty to participate in the common good and wellbeing of all especially the poor and vulnerable.

  1. Rights and Responsibilities:  Every person has the right to life and those things necessary for human dignity.  These rights come with duties and responsibilities to one another to our family and society.

  1. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable:  The best measure of a society is how it cares for the least.  The needs of the poor and vulnerable must be put first.

  1. The dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers:  Economies are to serve the people and not the other way around.  Work is how we participate in God’s creation.  The right to productive work, decent, and fair wages, to organize and participate in unions, the right of private property and economic initiative.

  1. Solidarity: All of God’s children comprise one human family regardless of our differences and diversity.  We are our brothers’ keepers.  Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world.  The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers, therefore, we must always work to promote peace.  To promote peace we must work for justice at home and abroad.

  1. Care of God’s Creation:  We show respect for the Creator by caring for creation.  This is a requirement of our faith.  By protecting the planet we are caring for the people that depend on the earth for life.  We cannot ignore the moral and ethical dimensions of environmental stewardship.

If we can live according to these seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching we will be building the Kingdom of God now for the betterment of all God’s children tomorrow, and paving the way to the Kingdom of God in the next life.  By living according to God’s will in this life we will not need to fear the coming judgment.  We will be true guardians of the people like Michael the Archangel.

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