Homily
for the Thirty-Third Sunday of the Year (B) (15th November, 2015) on
the Gospel
Dan
12:1-3;
Ps
15: 5.8-11 (R.V. 1);Heb 10:11-14.18;
Mk 13:24-32.
Topic: Life ticks away.
As the liturgical year comes to an end, the mother
Church through the readings wants us to be mindful of the awaiting exit. But just
like those in various positions of authority, the greatest fear for many is this
exit from this life. Many do not even want to remember that a time will come
when this life will be transformed either to life or to death, cf. Dan 12:2. If you take time to look around
you will see that many people of different classes and age brackets are now
just part of the history. Unfortunately, even the history is very fast
forgetting them. And all of us who are still here are relentlessly on the same road
and have no advantage over those who have gone before us, cf. 1Thess 4:15. Hence the Psalmist rightly
writes: “Man is like a breath, his days are like a passing shadow” (Ps 144:4).
In today’s gospel we read:
“24But
in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon
will not give its light, 25and
the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be
shaken” (Mk 13:24-25).
Most often this passage is seen to be
referring just to the end of the world. But I see this referring to the exit of
each of us from this world. Nowadays burial brochures have been turned into
photo albums. I have during my spare time gone through many with particular
reference to those of people who were up to seventy years and above. One thing
that strikes me is that even those who were very beautiful/handsome when much
younger could not be recognised in their old age.
When everything both the things we
boast of and those we hate with passion in this world has passed, the Son of
Man will “gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to
the ends of heaven” (Mk 13:27). Unfortunately,
we cannot answer questions about when, where, and how, cf. Mk 13:32. The most important thing is to be prepared so as not to
be caught unawares, (cf. Lk 12:40; 1Thess 5:1-2) by doing what you suppose
to all the time like Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. He “was playing a game of chess
one day when he was asked what he would do if he knew he would die within the
hour. He replied, ‘I would keep on playing chess’” (Culled from Sagayanathan, A.
(2009). Launching Pad: Stories for Sunday Homilies, year A,B,&C. Bangalore:
Asian Trading Corporation, p. 233).
There is also a story of St. Francis
Borgia. He “was of Spanish nobility and deeply devoted to his queen – Queen
Isabella. Upon her death it fell to the lot of Francis to open her casket as
part of her burial ceremony.
“What he saw was a foul and
disgusting corpse. ‘What!’ he exclaimed, ‘Is this all that remains of my
gracious sovereign?’” ( Sagayanathan, A. (2009). Launching Pad: Stories for Sunday
Homilies, year A,B,&C. p. 232). Remember David’s exclamation: “Who
is this that looks forth like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible
as an army with banners?” (Song 6:10).
In as much as I do not want to instil
unnecessary fear into anybody, I want to remind each and every one of us that we
shall all leave this world with nothing not even our bodies we care so much for,
cf. 1Tim 6:7. The only consoling
thing is that worthy life merits the fullness of life in the world to come. But
the big question is ‘who and who will make the list?’, cf. Rev 13:8; 20:15. So dearest in the Lord, always be prepared for that
journey. We are just on transit in this world. We all must surely cross the
Rubicon; the point of no return. Wishing you safe journey to our promise land.
Bible Readings: Lk 12:35-40; Matt 25:31-46; 1Thess 4:13-5:11; 1Tim 6:3-10.
Silent Prayer:
How are you preparing for the journey?
Let us pray: Almighty Father, we humbly beseech you
to help us remember always that we must one day leave this world. Help us live our
lives as we should so that whenever, wherever, and however it pleases you to
call us we will be found less unworthy to join the company of your saints –
Amen.
May the good Lord
grant us the necessary graces that will enable us prepare better for the world
to come + Amen!
Note the following:
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God bless you+
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