He is the Sign
Thirty-Third Sunday of the Year. Fr Benedict Jonak preaches on the signs of the end times.
We are all familiar with the places in the book of Ecclesiastes where the Preacher talks about the relentless passing of time: the changing of seasons; the joys of youth leading to the sorrows of old age; life ending in death, and every generation passing away preparing the place for the next.
If time is the measure of change, then, it is interesting to consider this Sunday’s readings through the lenses of this saying. This is because the texts speak of the end of things, the end of time, if you like: the final coming of the Son of Man, and indeed the first coming of the One who brings peace, forgiveness of sins and joy in the Holy Spirit, for those who long for him and believe in him. Those two events bring time to stop, as it were, bringing about realities that are never changing and eternal.
There is therefore little merit in pondering whether the end of things Christ tells us about has arrived yet, or how long are we to wait for them, because the end is already upon us, for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. It is not the recent wars and cataclysms that proved that statement true. It is the very birth of Jesus and his final sacrifice on the cross that usher in this new era: the apocalypse, the last days, the day of salvation, the opportune time, the day in which time has stopped, as it were, because what the Lord did for us for ever affects our human race and cannot be undone.
Now is the time to grasp the opportunity given to us all to become witnesses and heralds of the kingdom of God. There is no point in waiting for greater signs than the ones that have already been given us: Jesus’ birth and resurrection.
His birth has brought the divine nature down to earth and for ever united it with our common humanity.
His death, resurrection, and ascension have not only offered that same human nature to God but also made it possible for us to share in the divine nature by adoption, as we, members of Christ’s Body, hope to follow where he, the Head, already is.
Now is the time, then, to renew our faith in God. When we say ‘I believe in God,’ we do not simply mean that we believe that God exists. When we say ‘I believe in God’, we mean that our life is always directed towards God, no matter what. It means that we want him in our lives, that we long for him.
It means that we see God as the goal of our existence.
It means that we believe that after we die we will have our place with God.
It means we trust him, even when we face wars, disasters or the very passing of time.
God’s love is stronger than death, and he is always faithful, even if we hesitate to keep true to our promises. We can therefore pray together with the psalmist:
My heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
nor let your beloved know decay.
You will show me the path of life,
the fulness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever.
Readings: Daniel 12:1-3 | Hebrews 10:11-14,18 | Mark 13:24-32
Image: detail from the painted canopy over the High Altar of St Cyprian’s church, London by Sir Ninian Comper, photographed by Fr Lawrence Lew OP
