You Are My Inheritance, O Lord!

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time




In these last few Sundays of the Church Year, the readings have been describing the end of time. The prophet Daniel speaks of a time of unsurpassing distress; while Mark's Gospel has Jesus reminding us of Isaiah's prophecy of the tribulation when:

"the stars will be falling down from the sky and the powers in the heavens will be shaken." Jesus then tells the disciples that "they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory... to gather the elect..."

Despite the frightening scenes these visions and prophecies bring to our minds, we almost miss a major point of these readings: the message of Hope which the call to life eternal is.

Jesus tells us in Mark's Gospel, that no one knows the day or the hour when the end will come. Only God the Father knows. Jesus is referring, not only to the end of time; but also to our own deaths; for to inherit eternal life, we must first die.

As we live our lives with the knowledge that someday we must give an accounting to God, we strive to be happy here on this earth. Though we often find a glimmer of happiness by acquiring material possessions, we recognize that the more we think only of ourselves, the more sin grows in our lives.

Instead of simply concentrating on the acquisition of material possessions, we must give our lives for the sake of others. We also must bear witness to God by our peace, our joy and our acceptance of all we receive from Him in this life. We must try to put away our fears and have the courage to face life with boldness.

As the Psalmist tells us today:

"Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,

nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
You will show me the path to life..." Ps 16