MY WORDS WILL NEVER PASS AWAY
There will be persecution, suffering, discrimination and war
taking place before the end of the world. Nevertheless, as Children of God, we
are filled with hope and expectation as we wait for that day!
In the
Gospel of Luke, the parable Jesus tells emphasizes that just as one knows that
summer is coming by the signs around him, there are signs for one to know that
the Kingdom of God is near. Jesus continues to expand upon how near it is by
saying, "Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all
these things have taken place" (Lk 21:32). So we seem to have it both
ways; God's Kingdom is both near and far. Apart from those who are convinced
that the end of the world is about to come any day now, most of us know from
what Scripture tells us that "that day and hour no one knows, neither the
angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone...be prepared, for at an
hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come" (Mt 24:36, 44).
Jesus
warns us that there will be persecution, suffering, discrimination and war
taking place before the end of the world. Nevertheless, as Children of God, we
are filled with hope and expectation as we wait for that day! Now, we come to
the end of another liturgical year. We pray that our new year in the Lord will
be one of peace, forgiveness and increased aid to those who lack freedom, food,
shelter, security, employment with just wages and good health.
We can
be grateful that our heavenly Father's words will not pass away but will be
heard every day by our prayer and celebration of the Mass. We do not know the
day nor the hour when Christ Jesus will return again in glory. But then Jesus
gives us signs to "wake us up" and "rouse our spirits" to
be ready!