33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 19,2006

Daniel 12:1-3, Psalm 16:5-11. Hebrews 10:14,18. Mark 13:24-32.

Since we are in the last Sundays of November, we are also in the last phase of the Church's calendar for the year 2006. We are ending Year II and Cycle B of the readings which begin to concentrate on the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of time or his Parousia (His Advent at End of Time). Mark gives us the earliest account of this in what is known as the "Little Apocalypse" --- found in chapter 13 of the first Gospel. In looking at how Mark records Jesus sayings we see that they are similar to the apocalyptic passages found in the Prophet Daniel and Ezekiel. They are somewhat similar to what will be found in the Apocalypse or Book of Revelation which will be written almost 30 years after the Gospel of Mark. We do this in the liturgical readings to end a year and to look forward to the return of Christ as well as to begin a new Church year with a focus upon the Incarnation, that is the birth of Jesus from the Virgin Mary. Advent is, so to speak, just around the corner! It is an opportunity for summing up the past liturgical year and how it has made us grow into the person of Jesus. And, if we have not done very well, a new year begins with the first Sunday of Advent. Live goes on with Jesus being the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow as Hebrews 13:8 tells us.

As we focus on Mark's highly descriptive account of the times of tribulation before the end, let us not lose the perspective of the Church which is forever new and in the process of renewal. We recall that the early teachers tell us there are three comings of Christ the Word. First, the Son comes from the Father and the Holy Spirit as the Word is made flesh. So the Word is from all eternity coming from the Father and the Spirit. Then, in historical time, Jesus is the Word become flesh and he begins and enters the history of salvation. Finally, as all of the Gospels and epistles tell us, Jesus will come again in glory at the final resurrection of the dead. No one however should dare to predict these times; all such attempts have failed and will fail because Jesus tells us that even he does not know the exact time; only the Father does.

Mark is focusing on the final days and the coming of Christ. We should not be threatened or afraid of these poweful descriptions of Mark. We experience such things everyday in the news and we pray through it. We must pray through such crises and trials that we as humans undergo because of wars, terrorism, and hatred. As Catholics we believe that Jesus is the victor over sin, death, and evil. The second reading from Hebrews brings out the eternal and "once and for all" quality of his redeeming love. The victory has been won, these are the skirmishes that remain. In the final coming of Jesus we will be joined to him in love, peace, and joy for all eternity. Life does not end, it is merely changed and transformed into humans entering eternity where there is no time, no tears, no pain. In all of this Jesus is the same, yesterday, and today.

As we return to the first reading from the prophet Daniel we are assured of the protection God gives us through the archangel and messenger Michael who is the protector of God's people Israel and ourselves who believe in the only one true God. Our sins have been forgiven and remitted. We are one with the Lord of history through our faith and our love of God and all others--even our enemies. Love conquers all...eventually.

In today's Eucharist we celebrate the mystery of not only the sacrifice of the Cross and Jesus redemptive love, but also his second coming at the end of time. "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." Amen.