“You are my inheritance, O Lord!” is our Psalm 16 refrain today. It seems an apt response also to how we are to assess the end times as portrayed in our first reading from The Book of Daniel and in St. Mark’s Gospel. Despite the doom and gloom shared in these liturgical readings, the responsorial psalm offers a positive sense of hope as we trust in God who has always been with us no matter what the difficulties may be.
In the Prophet Daniel’s assessment of end times, he is talking to a Jewish race that is nearing the end of their 70 years in Babylonian exile due to their prior sinfulness. Though he is possibly talking about Jesus (Michael in the chapter) who will come to earth in about 160 years from then, it gives the people at that time hope that what they have suffered has been noted by God who in His love, mercy and forgiveness has lived up to His promise of freedom for them.
St. Mark’s Gospel, written about 40 years after Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension into heaven, was appealing to a Christian community that was being persecuted by the Roman Emperor Nero. Both Saint Peter, who was crucified upside down, and Saint Paul who was beheaded, lost their lives under Nero’s rule. Jesus’ preaching about end times in dramatic fashion still allows hope for disciples who continue to practice their faith.
What is often overlooked in these end time readings is the preparation for the coming of the Lord and the response by followers in faith, hope and anticipation. It supports good times for them. It will bring to resolution all human problems and tensions described throughout St. Mark’s Gospel. The Christian community will know immediately that the time has arrived and they will gather once again to focus on Jesus’ saving work. Though the time of Jesus’ return is unknown, there always has been an expectation it would happen.
St. Teresa of Calcutta, known by most of us as Mother Teresa, realized from her own life and practice of her faith that Christianity is a journey of service as established by God through Jesus’ time on earth. One of many famous quotes attributed to her to prove this is the path she took is: “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
Our marching orders, so to speak, are to affirm our Baptism as a conversion from a past life of sin, accept the sacrifice Jesus made for us to have eternal life and to do all that is in our power to spread the Good News to those in need. By doing so, we will gain admittance into God’s heavenly kingdom as good and faithful servants.
We need to shift our focus from “end times” to our time now, especially to those in need of God’s love through our service. Acknowledging that we need to be ready for the end (our own or the world’s passing), is a mandate to follow Jesus in His ways by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and visiting the sick and imprisoned to name a few things that need to be done. Waiting because we believe if it has not happened yet and we still have plenty of time, is playing a dangerous game we cannot control and depending on God to do it our way.
As St. Teresa of Calcutta said: “We have only today. Let us begin.” In following this motto of hers, let us not hesitate so as to be lost. Let us trust that God is our inheritance who has the answers to all our doubts and a promise of everlasting life to those who follow His ways. He will not abandon us, but show us the path to life with fullness of joys and delights. Let us begin!
Reading 1: Daniel 12: 1-3
Reading 2: Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18
Gospel: Mark 13: 24-32
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