33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2016
November 13, 2016
MalachI 3:19-20A, Psal 98, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12,
Luke 21:5-19
By Rev. Fr. Bob Johnnene OFM
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus
Order Franciscans of Mercy
The readings
for this Sunday seem to be preparing us for the coming season of Advent from
the first readings admonition; “The day is coming now, burning like a
furnace; and all the arrogant and the evil-doers will be like stubble. … But
for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing
in its rays.”; and the final Gospel reading where Christ is telling those
around him at the Temple of Jerusalem the following; “ , Jesus said, ‘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. Those around him
poised this question: ‘Master,’ they said ‘when will this happen, and what sign
will there be that this is about to take place?’ Take care not to be deceived,’ Christ said
‘because many will come using my name and saying, “I am he” and, “The time is
near at hand.” Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions,
do not be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not
so soon.” ….. “You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a
hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.”
This week is a
very good time to contemplate how Equality and Justice could be insured to all
our citizens and in all the nations of the world and what we could do on our
part to work toward that goal.
There is a
dire need today of finding ways to put an end to the torture, bigotry, hatred,
and injustices that plague our society and so many countries in the world.
Sadly we have
seen and heard about so many young people who have either taken their lives
because of being bullied or have suffered brutal beatings and even death by
people who felt that they were superior to those they bullied and tortured or felt
that their religious or political beliefs were the correct one.
We must
remember that every human being on the face of the earth is a child of God,
created in God’s image and likeness.
Therefore,
every human being on the face of the earth is our brother and sister in Jesus
Christ.
Christ’s
message of the Gospel tells us that if we have faith and put our trust in God
we can overcome any injustices.
People who
have been the victims of bullying or those who have had any violent act
committed against them may well think that the end is near.
Survivors and
victims of crimes often have feelings of denial, fear, anger, vindictiveness.
Often they do
not understand why the crime happened to them, and are often unable to forgive.
But we MUST
forgive just as Christ did when he hung on the cross and proclaimed “Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do”
It is true,
many who commit the violent acts, especially one of prejudice and hatred, do so
because they have been taught prejudice and hatred by bigoted people who are
either ignorant of God’s teachings or just don’t care about living as God
desires. They well may even be minions of the prince of Darkness himself.
All too often
the victims of prejudice, hatred and violence are often overlooked and
forgotten about but the trauma that they experienced lives forever in their
mind and heart and gives them fear often deep enough for them to believe that
their world has ended.
During this
week, and in fact every day of the year, we are called by God to bring hope to
hopeless victims.
Giving people
the knowledge of God’s infinite love and mercy and a spiritual well being can bring comfort and
help to people in pain, As it says in our first reading from the prophet
Malachi, “Those who have knowledge and faith (Fear) in God the sun of
justice with its healing rays.” There is something each of us can do to
advance this process of justice and equality for all as promised in the
Declaration of Independence of the United States, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men
are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness.” In
doing so, we can be carried through suffering to glory along with Jesus. And we
will be living out the final words found in Psalm 97; “ You that love the
LORD, hate evil“
Will be
delivered out of the hand of the wicked.”
This is a time
not of endings or finality but of hope and a time to begin to turn away from
accepting violence and hatred and turning to being a loving and caring child of
God who extends the kind of love Christ exhibited toward all who came to him.
This is a time
to become open and affirming toward all God’s children regardless of their
nationality, race, gender identity, marital status or sexual orientation.
Every person
on the face of this earth is a child of God and deserves to have dignity,
equality and justice and the freedom to live without fear. Let us make this our
goal for the coming season of Advent as we prepare to celebrate the birth of
Our redeemer and Savior. Let us work
hard to restore Justice to ALL God’s children all over the globe. AMEN
