Sixth Sunday in Easter, May 29, 2011
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: John 14:15-21 “The Spirit of truth… dwells with you, and will be in you.”
Homily summary: The end of the world, predicted by a Protestant pastor last week, did not occur. We do believe in the end of the world, but as Catholics we do not know, and we cannot know when it will occur.
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This prediction is an old heresy that keeps coming back. It’s called millenialism, or dispensationalism. It was condemned by St. Augustine in the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. It has two parts: the belief is that at the end of the world we will see a one thousand-year reign of Christ. But the question is, will everyone be good? Will there be deaths or burials?
What’s wrong with the rapture
Before that one thousand-year reign, there will come the rapture, supposedly. You’ve heard of the “Left Behind” series of books and movies a while ago. Those who are raptured will sit out the one thousand year-reign. There will be great tribulation during the reign, but those who are raptured will be spared. The state of Israel, as God’s nation, plays a big part in this. The existence of the state of Israel is supposed to be a sign that the end of the world is coming soon.
Every politician courts this belief. McCain was pro-Israel. They all go down to Texas to pay homage to John Hagee. Jesus is supposed to conquer during this reign, and then the real end of the world will come.
We don’t believe this. The Creed says that of His kingdom “there will be no end.” At the end of the world, we know that souls will be joined to the bodies. For those alive at the end, who have no mortal sin, there will be an intense and instant purgatory right here.
God’s kingdom is not earthly or political
The belief errs in that it holds that God’s kingdom will be earthly and political. We’ve all heard it before, whether it’s the New Deal, the Great Society, the City on a Hill, the Thousand Points of Light, or Yes We Can. All of this is messiahship. They are false messiahs. They don’t do anything to help us. They never did and they never will.
As Catholics, we know that there is a kingdom in heaven. There is one God, one Messiah, and one Church. Jesus is God; He is the Messiah. With the teachings of the Church as our guide, Jesus, and only Jesus, will make a difference in the life of the world.