Sunday Homily, November 17, 2013, 33rd Ordinary Time C
Readings:
Malachi 3, 19-20, There will arise the sun of justice.
Psalm 98, Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
2 Thessalonians 3, 7-12, Night and day we worked.
Luke 21, 5-19, Nation will rise against nation.
Introduction:
Before the Exile the OT prophets warned the Israelites of the punishment they were about to receive for not being obedient to the Commandments. After returning from their exile to find their temple, homes and fields in destruction they were exhorted by the OT prophets to restore and rebuild and purify themselves before God.
The written words of the very small book of the prophet Malachi anticipated the coming of a messenger to prepare their hearts to welcome and put into practice the life-giving and love-giving words and actions of the Messiah.
Our reading from St. Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians continues this theme: the virtuous will be known by their words and actions.
Homily:
When our first reading begins with these words, ‘a day is coming,’ it is speaking of the Day of Judgment to separate those whose life and love giving words and actions have served God and neighbor from those who failed to do so.
The Prophet Malachi implies that those who have served God and neighbor have done so naturally because they have been purified [by the Spirit]. Indeed, Jesus’ words in the Matthew gospel to those who have shown mercy and justice invite them to enter the kingdom of God prepared for them from the foundation of the world.
They are told that they had clothed him when he was naked, given water and food when he was hungry and thirsty. The just are perplexed; they ask him ‘when did we clothe you or visit you when you were sick or in prison?’
The Lord replies, ‘when you did it to the least of those around you, you did it to me and for me through the Spirit.’
In today’s gospel his disciples ask Jesus when this Day of Judgment was coming. The gospels tell us that only the Father knows the day when his Son, the bridegroom, will come for his bride; but Jesus replies that those who have endured persecution and have chosen to be led by the Holy Spirit will recognize the signs in the heaven. Then they are to raise their heads knowing that their redemption is at hand.
Ten years ago I spent some time examining some early Christian writings that were not included in the NT. I came across a writing that was done by a 22 year old, well educated, young woman named Perpetua living in the north African city of Carthage in the year 203 AD.
She was writing about herself during the last days of her life. She had just finished the final stage of the catechumenate when she had been arrested for being a Christian. [The Romans in Carthage needed some Christians to throw to the Lions on the Emperor’s Birthday.]
Perpetua was baptized as she waited to be put into prison. Her father came to visit her, begging that she tell the judge that she was not a Christian. She pointed to a pot near her asking him to tell her what it was. Then she said to him that in like manner she could not be anything other than what she was, ‘a Christian.’
With her head raised high, she identified herself as Christian before the judge. She described prison as a dark hole, but she prayed for endurance with three others who were catechumen; including her maid, Felicity, who was expecting a child.
On the night before they were taken to the arena to be thrown to the wild animals during the festivities these martyrs were given their last meal. These four Christians called it their love feast; they were receiving the Bread blessed and broken. By no other name did they want to be called. Let us cherish the Christian name to which each of us has been called.