Faithfood for the Faithful November 17, 2013 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Malachi 3: 19-20; Psalm 98: 5-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 Luke 21: 5-19 Insights: AM I READY? Fr. Jun Lingad, SDB As the Year of the Church nears its end (next week), the liturgical readings speak of the destruction of the Temple and the end of the world. No Jew would even imagine Jerusalem destroyed after so long a history! But Jesus prophesied exactly that: “All that you see here — the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down” (Lk. 21:6). Jesus pointed the reason for this dire prophecy: “If you too had only recognized on this day the way to peace! But in fact it is hidden from your eyes!” (Lk. 19:42) and “you did not recognize the time of your visitation” (Lk. 19:44). “Visitation” in the Bible may mean (a) for blessing those so visited or (b) for their punishment. — Here, it foretells the destruction of Jerusalem, which Jesus loved and even ‘wept’ for (Lk. 19:41)! This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D., barely forty years after Jesus spoke! “‘If you…only recognized…the way to peace! This JESUS is OUR PEACE (Eph. 2:14)! Jesus fulfills God’s promise: “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans TO GIVE you A FUTURE FULL OF HOPE” (Jer. 29:11). — This “Hope” is not something but Someone, JESUS CHRIST (1 Tim. 1:1)! Curiosity about when this or that catastrophe will happen is impertinent. More important is to ask ourselves: Am I ready for Jesus’ coming at any time, by witnessing to Him with lives according to His teachings and commands? Indeed, by our perseverance — in living good Christian lives filled with faith, love and service — will we secure our lives, that is, be saved forever. Amen. Hand of the Sower Catholic Community Salt of the World Evangelistic Resource Mt. 13:37 “...the man who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 01:15:15 +0000
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