Readings:
Malachi 3:19-20; 2 Thess. 3:7-12; Lk 21:5-19
He
is Afraid of Death, Who Never Lived Well.
What
would you do if you knew you had only today, this week, or next month to live? You
would panic and wonder whether you are ready to meet your Creator on Judgment
Day. You might write a will, distribute your properties among your children,
relatives, and friends, go to confession, and make a retreat. These actions are
indeed commendable. But why wait until the end of your life to do good,
burdened by anxiety and the fear of death?
Today’s
readings address the end times and the four last things—death, judgment, heaven,
or hell. The Bible confirms this: “Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an
oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is
coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch.”
(Malachi 3:19). The readings remind us Christ will return one day, and we
should be ready. However, this knowledge does not imply that Christ’s return
will be today or tomorrow; it could be any day!
Some
individuals are so obsessed with the end of the world that they predict the
year and day it will occur. Yet Christ warned, “See that you are not
deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has
come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be
terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be
the end.” (Luke 21:8-9). Christ urges us to focus on the fundamental
aspects of life: caring for one another, being each other’s keepers, and
being committed to our faith through prayer. Do not worry about the end; it
will come when it comes. If we live as Christians, we do not need to fear. The
day we die marks the end of our world and the beginning of a new life with God.
In
the second reading, St. Paul encouraged his listeners to imitate his work
ethic. Some had stopped working, believing that the end was imminent. “We
hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, not
keeping busy but minding the business of others. Such people we instruct and
urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and eat their own food.”
(2 Thessalonians 3:6-16). Being overly anxious about the end of the world can
be a distraction. We do not need to perform extraordinary deeds merely to
secure a place in heaven at the last moment; instead, we should strive to lead
extraordinary lives daily, from the day of our baptism until the day we die. We
must remain steadfast in our duties at all times. We cannot don Christianity
when it is convenient and cast it aside when it is not.
Despite
the ominous portrayals of the end times—earthquakes, wars, insurrections,
nations fighting one another, persecutions, famines, plagues, betrayals, and
imprisonments—there is also assurance and consolation for those who do the will
of God. We must not be afraid; fear is for the guilty. Worrying unnecessarily
is for those who do not know their destiny or who controls it. Our future is in
God’s hands, not in dubious predictions. The prophet Malachi assures us: “But
for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing
rays.” (1:20). Let us place our
trust in the Lord and strive to do His will at all times. Because, according to
St. Paul, “All things work for good for those who love God.” (Rom.
8:28-39). As Christ said, “All will hate you because of my name, but not
a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance, you will secure
your lives.” (Luke 21:19). Again, “When these signs begin to
happen, stand erect and raise your heads, because your redemption is at hand.”
(Luke 21:28). Let me conclude with the words of William Barclay, “The man
who walks with Christ may lose his life, but he can never lose his soul.” Questions
for reflection:
·
Am
I worried about the end of my life?
· Do I worship God
out of love for him or because I am afraid of hell?
· He
is afraid of death, who never lived well. Are you afraid of death?
“And
this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of
what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day” (Jn. 6:39).
“Don’t forget to pray today because
God didn’t forget to wake you up this morning.”
Rev.
Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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