(REMEMBER TO PRAY IN THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR YOUR RELATIVES, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED).
COLLECT: “ALMIGHTY EVER-LIVING GOD, WHOSE WILL IS TO RESTORE ALL THINGS IN YOUR BELOVED SON, THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE, GRANT, WE PRAY, THAT THE WHOLE CREATION, SET FREE FROM SLAVERY, MAY RENDER YOUR MAJESTY SERVICE AND CEASELESSLY PROCLAIM YOUR PRAISE. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Dan 2:31-42; Ps Dan 3:57-61 and Lk 21:5-11.
The message from today’s scriptures (Dan 2:31-45; Lk 21:5-11) is that, nothing is permanent in this world, nothing lasts in this world. My world will end the day my life ends in this world. In the first reading, King Nebuchadnezzar asks for an interpretation of his dream, which Daniel provides.
In the Gospel, the disciples of Jesus ask Jesus when the Temple will be destroyed, and the reply Jesus gives is in general terms. Scriptures today also talk about the Second coming of Christ, known as the Eschaton or the Rapture, which will be the imminent end of the world, with events that will make people panic, but no one knows when. Even angels and Jesus do not know when, only the Father knows when the end will come. Even the end of our individual lives in the world is not known to any of us. This therefore calls for ever-readiness, preparedness and vigilance so as not to be surprised by the end times.
Some opportunistic fundamentalists make the teaching of the end of the world or the second coming of Jesus Christ the center piece of their theology and they hold rallies as well as TV programmes on TV screens, behaving as if and claiming they have knowledge of the end of the second coming, when even the Son of God or the angels do not know when this will come.
Such wrong predictions and teachings very often make people panic, and occasionally, some people of little or weak faith are carried away by pronouncements from these opportunistic fundamentalists. Every century or generation has its portion of natural phenomena to witness. Please, be careful, watchful and vigilant about such people. Do not follow them and do not listen to them.
Scriptures today advise and counsel us to avoid being caught up in this excitable flurry of dire predictions. More personally, and more importantly, I should be worried about when my earthly life will come to a conclusion. I should take care of this day so that when it eventually comes, I will be counted among those who would be received into the “new heavens and a new earth” that Jesus promised us, the only thing that lasts or that is permanent, eternal life.
As we prepare to end the liturgical Church’s year on Saturday, let us assess or evaluate ourselves, our actions and deeds over the year which we started on the First Sunday of Advent, 2020. Where we have done well, we thank God for that but where we have not performed up to expectation, let us be sorry for that and immediately make amends, lest we are taken by surprise. May Saint Catherine intercede for us. Stay blessed and happy feast to all who bear the name Catherine.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, TUESDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “HAVING RECEIVED THE FOOD OF IMMORTALITY, WE ASK, O LORD, THAT, GLORYING IN OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST, THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE, WE MAY LIVE WITH HIM ETERNALLY IN HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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