21st Week in Ordinary Time, August 31, 2006

Scripture: I Cor.1:1-9. Psalm 145. Matthew 24:42-51.

Once in a while you may come across a word that keeps popping up when you read about the last chapters of the Gospel or take a look at the symbolic book of Revelation. It is composed of two Greek words: eschatos = the last, or the end, and "logos" = word, or study of whatever is attached to this word "logos." The word I am referring to is ESCHATOLOGY. Simply stated, it means the study or reasoning about the last things--like death and the afterlife. I like to look at it as pointing to the ultimate goal of human beings which means to me our returning to the loving Creator who gave us life through our parents. Genesis gives us a noble calling saying we are "made in the image and likeness of God." (Genesis 1:26). Eschatology can also refer to the coming of God's realm or kingdom, to the messianic ers, or the final judgment. In Catholic catechetical thought it is what is known about the teaching on heaven, hell, and purgatory. Now why, in the world, would I bring up this topic today? It was through the word that Jesus shouts out : "Awake! Stay awake! For you do not know when your Lord will come." (Matthew 24:42). For me this was an eye-opener this morning and in caught my attention. I realized we are all in this together moving towards the ultimate goal-- God, the life-giver and sustainer of all that is good, noble, beautiful, and truthful. As I go on in years, this goal seems closer and closer and does catch my attention. It helps me to prioritize and organize my day in a better manner, conscious of how precious time is for me.

I am sure that Matthew is directing the message of Jesus to the community or church of his times (somewhere near the end of the first century). His chapter 24 deals almost exclusively with the theme of the end-time and the coming of the Kingdom of God. The parables for today--two in number, are the commercials for the Kingdom of God that Jesus is using to catch our attention. The first about the thief who comes when one least expects is actually about his own intervention into the history of the world at the end-time or to our own lives as we approach the end of our days. The second parable about the trustworthy and faithful servant is a call for us to learn to be such a faithful steward of what God calls us to do by sharing our gifts and talents with others.

I have heard from some preachers and some spiritual reading books that some of the saints actually set about living each day as though it were their last day. Perhaps, we can think about trying this today. Then I think we may have caught the message of the two parables. We may have also been challenged to "Stay awake!" like faithful servants who are ready for the Lord when he comes. Eschatology is the word; vigilance, the price. Amen.