Signs

Gospel Reflection 11/13/2022

Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”

He answered, “See that you not be 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.”

Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place, and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky. (Luke 21:7-11)

Signs:

That we are living in some level of “end times” doesn’t seem as far-fetched a notion as maybe it had been before, in our modern age. Hedonism flourishes as our fundamental family values diminish right before our eyes. All this, in front of a backdrop of what seems to be a lingering threat of nuclear war. So, signs of the end times seem to be all around us. Just turn on the news, and you will see famines and earthquakes; indeed, one could say that today’s Gospel reading speaks directly to us. For Christians, the most disheartening part is that the world which needs God so severely seems to push Him further and further away.

Hope:

In today's Gospel, however, Jesus reminds us during these times, or what may seem to be end times, that we should not be deceived or lose hope. We are not the only generation that feels the end of times is nearing, and our current trials only mean one thing: we must trust and seek Jesus even more honestly than before. True freedom will not be found in our politicians, and it is time we surrender the idea of true peace or eliminating hunger, as, without complete obedience to Christ, these things will not go away. It will not be through weapons or bombs that our freedom will come but instead solely through Christ. Look to Jesus as the guide, and do not fear when the evils of this world seek to destroy you. 

For I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking* that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.

You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. (Luke 21:15-16)

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The Church's ultimate trial: 

Before Christ's second coming, the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception, offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh.{1}

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Faith:

Amidst our earthly trials, and until Christ returns, we must trust in the grace of God. Today ask the Lord to give His Church and all its people the strength to endure the challenges ahead. 

"The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and on that day, the heavens will vanish with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire and the earth, and all its deeds will be made manifest" (2 Pt 3:10).

Reference:

{1} Catechism of the Catholic Church. At The Holy See, w2.vatican.va. 675