The End of the World As We Know It

Scripture Reflection for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 17, 2013)

Scripture Readings:
Malachi 3:19-20a
Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9
2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Luke 21:5-19

“It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine…”

R.E.M.’s lyrics seem particularly appropriate in light of this Sunday’s readings. The first reading and the Gospel speak of the “end time,” the second coming of Jesus. Malachi notes that “the day is coming…when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble…leaving them neither root nor branch.” In the Gospel, Jesus says, “All that you see here – the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone…Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.” The list of terrible events does not stop there, either. Jesus notes that before the end time, we will be called upon to give testimony. Although no one will be able to refute our testimony, we will still be hated because of our allegiance to him. We are not even supposed to form our defense beforehand, because Jesus will give us wisdom in speaking.

We do not have to wait for divine inspiration, at least not entirely. The second reading offers us a few guidelines for preparing for the end time, albeit by specifying what we ought not to do. Paul explains that, “You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone…we worked so as not to burden any of you…if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.”

These are heavy prescriptions we have been handed. Moreover, if we consider the signs that Jesus indicates in the Gospel, we know that the end time is not only coming, it is upon us. Daily, we are surrounded by examples of suffering, on large and small scales. To be mindful of all that is around us begs the question: how will God come to us?

Jesus offers that answer in Luke’s Gospel: through each other. The readings emphasize our call as Christians to be witnesses of the Gospel in the world by remaining faithful to God. Being witnesses in the world means that we are the evidence of God for each other. When we advocate for those who are marginalized, when we feed the hungry and clothe the naked, when we simply sit with someone who is suffering, we bring justice to that person. We are invited to a radical trust - that by showing up and doing what is right, we will bring justice to the world and thus bring about that second coming of Jesus that Luke describes. It may be “the end of the world as we know it,” but we can have confidence in what is to come.

Indeed, the reign of God is not far away, in another time and place. In being Christ for each other, Jesus rises again and again, day by day.

Image: Altocumulus. Found on Flickr under the Creative Common License. Copyright by Moyan Brenn