My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, may the Lord this 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time give you peace. As we round off the year—the liturgical calendar coming to a close—and being in the month of November, we recall the last things. The readings begin to reflect this more and more, and they beckon us to continually perform an interior inventory.
For the Lord is coming, and He is coming with justice. Yet, at the moment, He wants us to receive His mercy—but to persevere when we see injustice in the world. How many times do we lose heart because we see the wicked thrive and the good suffer?
Saint Malachi, in today’s first reading, paints two images of that same coming day—the Day of the Lord. For the proud, it will be like a blazing oven burning away what is false. For those who fear the Lord, on the other hand, it will be like the Sun of Justice whose rays bring healing.
The Fathers of the Church always saw in this Sun of Justice a foreshadowing of Christ Himself. Saint Augustine writes, “He comes as fire to burn the chaff, and as light to make the faithful shine.” In Advent, we look forward to the first rays of that Sun in Bethlehem. But today’s reading looks toward His final coming, when all will be made right.
In the Psalm, creation itself sings for joy. The seas, rivers, and mountains clap their hands because the Lord comes to rule with justice. The late Pope Benedict XVI often said that Christian joy is born of the certainty that justice will be done—and that the Judge of the world is good and merciful. Our worship, then, is not fear but anticipation, for we praise the One who will right all wrongs.
How often, when we look around at the evils of this world—the corruption, manipulation, and cunning of the devil—do we feel saddened that such a beautiful world could be turned so evil by those who rebel against God? At the end of the day, that’s what sin is: rebellion against God.
And so, Saint Paul, in the second reading, warns the Thessalonians. Some of them had stopped working because they believed the Lord’s return was imminent. Yet Saint Paul encouraged them to continue working and evangelizing, because work—far from being a punishment—is a participation in God’s creative power. By working honestly, Christians give witness to the Gospel of truth and integrity.
In fact, Saint Paul’s maxim was, “If anyone will not work, let him not eat.” That is not cruelty, but a call to dignity and service. In our age of comfort and distraction, it reminds us that holiness involves discipline and responsibility in daily life. And how are we doing with that discipline? We must try to discipline ourselves, always remembering that grace comes from God—for without Him, we are weak and we stumble. That is the lesson for all: holiness comes from God.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple, and His disciples are stunned. This Temple was not just a building—it was the heart of Israel’s faith. And yet Jesus teaches them to place their hope not in things that pass, even in the stones of that Temple, but in the living presence of God, who cannot die, who is permanent, who is eternal, and who abides with them.
Wars, earthquakes, and persecutions are all part of a world in labour pains, awaiting renewal. Once again, Pope Benedict XVI, in his Jesus of Nazareth (Volume II), writes: “Jesus does not give us a timetable for the end, but a call to fidelity.” The Christian’s task is not to calculate the hour but to persevere in trust and love.
Because, at the end of the day, my brothers and sisters—whether it is the Second Coming or the last breath that we breathe—we will stand before the tribunal of Christ. And so, what kind of lives ought we to lead here on earth, knowing this will happen one day? Again, not out of fear, but out of appreciation—so that we do not regret for all eternity, I could have lived so much closer to the Lord. I could have done so much more for Him while I had the chance. But my faith was weak.
Saint Cyril of Alexandria says, “The Saviour does not promise freedom from suffering, but the grace to endure it with courage and to bear witness.” And Jesus reminds us: “Not a hair of your head will perish. By your perseverance, you will secure your lives.” That is not a guarantee against physical harm, but a promise of eternal safety—the victory of the soul that endures in faith.
My brothers and sisters, let us seek first the Kingdom of God, and everything else will be added unto us through His goodness.
May Almighty God bless you: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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