33d Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 13: 24-32

 

 

“The End is Near!”

 

This is a phrase that we often hear or use in a humorous or satirical way.   Yet, it is a notion that we hear often in scripture, most especially from the Old Testament prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Zechariah and Daniel.   Today, however, we hear it from Jesus.   Jesus tells us of the end-times and cautions us that “…of that day or hour, no one knows…” while also telling us we should pay attention to the signs as a warning that the day is near.

 

Most scripture scholars agree that the earliest Christians believed that the end times were going to happen within their lifetimes.   Alas, it did not.   Many believers throughout the centuries up until the present believed, predicted, and warned that it was about to happen.   But we're still here. (And not just Christians – remember the big scare in 2012 over the Mayan Calendar?)

 

So, Jesus' message is still true, relevant and important.   We don't know when, so don't put off being a good and faithful follower of His commandments, lest we be caught unaware and unprepared!

 

However, there's an additional way, perhaps, to look at this passage.   While the end of the world has not yet come on a global scale, there have been many occasions in history where people “thought” the end was near.   And, sadly, for many people, the end has come on a personal level.    Even now, many people see the “signs.”   Namely, we live in a terribly confusing, dangerous and volatile world.   The worry that “the end is near” is always present, no matter how much we'd like to ignore that.

 

The thought occurs to me that I might not be around when the final day of judgment comes, but that will only be because I have already faced my own day of judgment.   The apocalypse is a scary thought, and, certainly, one which should make us look at our faith in a very serious and focused way.   But my one eventual demise should be no less scary or serious, in terms of how I'm living out my faith.

 

Do I truly live, or at least desire to live, in a way which brings God's love, charity, mercy, forgiveness, comfort, hope, peace and joy to the world?   If not, why wait?   If I look at the scary “signs' that are all around I can certainly see that the world is in dire need of God's presence.   So, what am I waiting for?

 

I may not know the day or hour of the second coming.   I may not know the day or hour of my own judgment day.   But I do know the day and hour that I need to bring God into this world.   And that day is today; and that hour is right now.

 

“Call Me Ishmael

In God we Trust.

 In this week’s Gospel, Mark 12:38-44, Jesus warns us about the scribes and their desire for recognition. They walk around in long robes, seeking honor and trying to appear important in front of others. But then Jesus brings our attention to a poor widow who gives only two small coins at the temple. These coins are all she has, and yet she gives them without fear,  putting her trust in God. Jesus tells us that her gift, though small, is has more meaning because she gave all she had and was used her faith in Jesus to be her supply. 

This Gospel hits me in a way that brings me back to my own struggles with humility. There have been times in my life where I wanted to be seen, to have my hard work recognized, to feel that I had accomplished something important. It’s a natural desire, but it can quickly lead to pride. Pride has a way of sneaking in, making me feel like I’m in control, like I don’t need anyone else—not even God. But I’ve come to learn, often the hard way, that pride can pull me away from my true purpose and from God’s call in my life.

When I read about the widow’s offering, I am reminded of what it means to keep God at the center. It means giving from the heart, whether it’s our time, our resources, or our talents, not for the recognition but because we trust in Him. It’s about doing what’s right in God’s eyes, even when no one else sees it. I need that reminder constantly because when God is at the center, I am reminded of my purpose and my calling. It keeps me grounded, it keeps me from getting too caught up in my own image, and it keeps me from letting pride take over. Of course I fall short and stumble but it’s my faith that keeps getting back in the ring.  

This Gospel encourages me to ask myself where I am giving from—am I giving from a place of abundance where I hardly feel the sacrifice, or am I giving in a way that makes me rely on God’s strength rather than my own? That widow didn’t have much, but she had faith. And maybe that’s the point for all of us. When we choose to keep God at the center, we’re saying that we trust Him to fill in the gaps, to take what little we can offer and use it in ways we may never understand. 

This week, Maybe we can all focus on humility and keeping God at the center. I want to remind myself that every act, every choice, can be an offering to God. And when pride sneaks in, I’ll remind myself of the widow’s two coins—a small offering but given with a big heart, trusting completely in the God.