Christ the King Sunday
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
MP3 – Homily Audio
As we enter the last days of the liturgical year, our readings today focus on the end of time. Certainly, in the history of the world there has been no lack of people prophesying that the end is near. Sometimes these are just ordinary people close to us. Our grandparents or older relatives may see the moral degeneration of society as a sure sign of the end of time. They tell us, “I think the end is coming.”
Other times, it is on a more global level. This was the case in 2012. Many believed that the end of the Mayan Calendar in December 2012 was a sure sign of last days. During that same year, Protestant pastor Harold Camping declared firmly that October 2012 was the end. Well…guess what? They were all wrong!!
Jesus tells us in the Gospels that no one knows the end except the Father in heaven. We hear in the Gospel today that we should not be deceived. Wars, insurrections, and other traumatic events will surely happen, but it will not yet be the end. Some people will even arise who seem great. They may have charismatic gifts or even mystical powers. Yet, they will eventually be shown up as frauds.
You see…in this “Time of Mercy” (Jesus’ words to St Faustina) God seems to prefer to not make himself known in loud or boisterous ways. Instead, He comes in the subtle and unassuming. This is where human wisdom has it all wrong. We risk missing the Lord’s voice because we are waiting for what is great and overwhelming.
Priests and Religious point to the end times
There are signs of the end times all around us. One of these is Religious Life. The Church has declared for two thousand years that religious are “eschatological signs of the world to come.” When we see a religious in habit who is truly living their vows, we are reminded of the New World to come. In heaven, there will be no exclusive marriage, but a union through God with all persons. There will be no more sin, but each person’s desires will be one with the Lord. And, there will be no ownership, for all will be shared in God.
As we await Jesus’ Second Coming, we are reminded of it in very subtle ways. One of these is just seeing a religious man or woman living their vows. God is speaking to us through these weak persons. He is saying, “This is the way!” “Try your best to follow those who live in and for God alone.”
None of us are perfect, but we are all called to live for Him alone. Let us all say with one voice, “Come Lord Jesus! Bring us all into communion with you!”