Sing Psalms to the Lord!
As we come to the end of the liturgical year, the Church encourages us to look at our world, at the passage of time, and to ponder how we respond in trust to God’s faithfulness.
In the First Reading, the prophet Malachi speaks of the end of time, the great day of the Lord. There will be punishment for the arrogant and evil-doers, but those who respect the Lord will experience healing like the warming rays of the sun.
The Psalm celebrates the coming of the Lord to judge, not in fear but with joy and praise.
St Paul (Second Reading), giving himself as a model, advises on how to live as we wait for the coming of the Lord. We are to work quietly and conscientiously in and for the community. We should not give up and become idle or lazy.
Jesus, in the Gospel, predicts the destruction of the Temple and other catastrophic events, as well as persecution and betrayal. He tells his disciples not to be afraid: this is not the end of the world, and he also promises to care for them. Their endurance will win them their lives.
As Pilgrims of Hope, today’s readings lead us to ponder what hope means for us as we consider the tragedies in our world. God will not abandon us.
