33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – B

The expression, “The end is near,” is often received with fear and anxiety – whether we are talking about a deadline that is approaching for a mundane task we need to finish or, more importantly, when it refers to the real end of all things and the time when we will come before our God for judgment.

People who are well organized in mundane affairs do not fear when the end is near or a deadline is approaching, because they have their affairs in order and are prepared at any moment to give an account of their efforts.

Those who are procrastinators might hear that the end is near or a deadline is approaching and be filled with fear if their affairs are not in order or their work is nowhere near being done.

When we here readings like the ones we've heard today – readings that speak of the last things, a coming judgment, an ultimate separation of the just from the wicked – we can think of what it would be like to hear from Jesus the message that “the end is near,” and we might ask ourselves, “how ready are we?”

It is a little hard to believe that our world is ready to stand before God as a human family if the end was truly near to where we stand today.

Today, war, terrorism, and violence are still evils that undermine the stability and safety of innocent people around the world, in our own country, and even at times in our own community.

Today, our country is divided, however we want to labels ourselves, into factions that are known at various times as red states and blue states, Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives.

At times, even members of our Church are prone to similar divisions and labels.

And while these serious wounds exist, not to mention the horrendous examples of human rights violations that also exist but go unreported, our attention in the news over the past few days has been on the shortage and the scarcity of the newest and most sought-after video game.

If the end is truly near, our world as a whole is just not ready.

As we listen to the Word of God tonight, its challenge is to be hopeful, not discouraged.

As we walk out of church today, we can be fairly certain that we will not bring an end to war, terrorism, or violence today. We will not heal the divisions that wound our society or our Church. And we will not persuade all people that the money spent on a video game would do a whole lot more good if given to feed or shelter a hungry or homeless person.

But we can hear the Word of God invite us today to examine our lives so that we may have the courage and confidence to know that if the end is near for us, then we can hopefully say we are ready.

If the end is really near, then we can accept this fact without fear if today we make a decision to turn away from the violence of criticism, sarcasm, and gossip.

And if the end is really near, then we can accept this fact without fear if today we make a decision to turn away from the aggression of impatience at home, in stores, on the roads.

And if the end is really near, then we can accept this fact without fear if today we make a decision to heal divisions by resolving to make the coming Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons a time of reconciliation as well as a time of gratitude and hospitality.

And if the end is really near, then we can accept this fact without fear if today we make a decision to do our part to be one small fish swimming against the tide of a materialism and commercialism that have become almost completely out of control by finding ways to share from our abundance and prosperity not only on a seasonal but even on a weekly basis during this coming Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

The end, in fact, may actually be very near, for all we know – Jesus says, not even the Son of Man knows the day nor the hour.

As we look at the world around us at the beginning of this Thanksgiving and Christmas season, some will be tempted to see the glass half empty and recognize all the reasons to say the world is not ready of the end were to come today.

On the other hand, I believe there is great wisdom in the hymn we sing that says “let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”

And if this is the way we live our lives, then we can say with trust and confidence in God's love and mercy that we are ready if the Son of Man were to call us today to give an account of the lives we are living as his followers.

 

Thomas P. Ferguson
November 19, 2006