God wins in the End

Homily

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday 17th November 2024

First reading

Daniel 12:1-3

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 145(146):7-10

Second reading

Hebrews 10:11-14,18

Gospel

Mark 13:24-32

 

Yesterday, I met a friend for coffee and as usual we discussed much that is happening in the world, the uncertainty of life and how it appears we are entering a dark time in history. As we parted, we shook hands and he said, “George, just remember, God wins in the end.”

When scriptwriters begin a project, it is usual to work out how the story should end, how things will be resolved, then it becomes easier to plot out how the main character will journey to the end. The writer can then place obstacles in the main character’s way to make things difficult for them to achieve their goals. But no matter what they will reach the end of the story.

Stories are an important part of our everyday life, we watch news reports, play computer games, watch films and, even dare I say Korean soaps that go on for 16 to 50 episodes. My wife watched one of the longer ones, constantly wishing they would hurry up as the story seemed to linger on, then when it came to the final episode, everything seemed rushed, and disjoined, as if the writers to tie loose ends up before the finale. The episode seemed confusing, and at one point we both got knocked out of the story because things didn’t make sense.

I had better own up, yes, I watched nearly half the episodes, more towards the end. Where there were gaps, I had asked my wife for a quick summary to catch up. Whole episodes she paraphrased in a few moments, and I was up to date. I must say, it is very easy to get hooked into these Korean shows. Even with the subtitles.

It may be hard to believe but we are coming to the end of another cycle. Next Sunday we celebrate Christ the King, and the week after we begin Advent, beginning Year C’s cycle of readings at Mass. So, it is apt, this week that we reflect upon the end. The last days.

The Book of Daniel reminds us that the Archangel Michael will stand guard of God’s people during a time of distress. At the end of Mass, the St Michael the Archangel prayer used to be said, asking for him to defend us in battle, to protect us against the wickedness and snares of the devil. The prayer also reminds us of how Satan and his follows prowl across our planet to turn souls away from God.

In our news, we see horrendous destruction of people and their homes, more so in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine, but there is also much destruction globally, through wars and the greed of a few who are more interested in profit than the needs of the many. The recent Conference of the Parties, know as COP29, held in Azerbaijan, has been criticised by former UN heads for being more about lobbyists campaigning for the use of fossil fuels instead of looking at renewable energies. For many poorer countries, they are frustrated with 1st World Rich Countries who have exploited much of the world’s resources and are trying to prevent 3rd World Countries from developing their own natural resources. Everything seems to have been turned upside down.

Closer to home, many Catholic bishops are encouraging their flock to express their concerns about the impending votes on Assisted Dying but are being told to stay out of politics and mind their own business. A sad state-of-affairs when the people cannot be allowed to influence the leaderships of politics, especially since most of the laws were based around bible commandments.

Unfortunately, what we are being told about the conditions being put in place to safeguard against misuse, we see in countries which have adopted Medical Assistance in Dying, such as in Canada, California and Switzerland, restrictions gradually expand leading to people who feel life is not worth living being given this option. Many doctors in the UK are concerned about the new law, because if approved, has no provision for conscientious objection.

The Catholic Herald online has many articles expressing a wide range of concerns with assisted dying, especially as one of the ten commandments is “You shall not kill.”

The Book of Daniel continues describing how eager he was to discover when the end would happen. Our Lord told Daniel this was a secret and would be kept so until the End times. However, Daniel was reassured that many would be cleansed, and made white, purged of their sins, but the wicked would continue to do wrong, not knowing their fault.

Paul reminds us in Hebrews, Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb of God, who died once for all our sins, and there will come a time when sin ends. This will happen when all sins are forgiven, and the enemies of God have been crushed underfoot.

Jesus tells us, in Mark’s Gospel, there will be a time of distress, but that this distress will also come to an end. The light coming from the sun, reflected off the moon and the light from stars throughout the universe will be darkened. Then the Glory of Jesus will shine brighter than anything ever seen before, as he returns.

This is guaranteed, and we can trust in what Jesus has told us. We should take heart, and continue to prayer for St Michael, the Archangel to protect us, to use the Rosary everyday as part of Our Lady’s shield around us and know the Holy Spirit is with us.

Each day we are permitted to live on this planet should be seen as a joyous occasion. An opportunity to be cleansed of our sins and to be filled with God’s grace. We should cherish each moment as a precious gift of life and not worry about when the End will come.

Our prayers bring us nearer to God. In happiness, let us place all our hope in the Lord, Amen, Alleluia.

 

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.