For anyone who has even grown up glancing at the many tabloids that surround us when we checkout at a grocery store we are constantly being reminded that the end of time is drawing near. These tabloids have made many predictions, but despite all of them we still find ourselves here this day. The most pressing prediction comes 33 days from now when the Mian calendar comes to a close. A small percentage of people are convinced that this will be the prediction that will finally come true. In our readings today we also hear this very grim announcement that time will come to an end. All of us know that this is true because even if we are not here for the end of the world there will come a time when we will meet our own death. It is something that we cannot avoid. For all of us here inside of this Church we only have to look ahead a few weeks to see that our liturgical year is quickly coming to an end. With the end of this liturgical year we are promised to enter into a new one and from here be able to continue to experience the mysteries of Christ's birth, death, and Resurrection.
The perfect tabloid headline should read: "But of that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." If we are to take these words to heart we should do something with them. We should do something that can put these words into practice, so that we can go into the world and be transformed from the darkness that can be found within. As the small percentage of people that are convinced that the Mian calendar's end is a sign to follow and therefore become prepared with a countless amount of supplies that might be necessary for survival. May we take this example in our own spiritual lives as we prepare ourselves each day to come into complete union with God. If we allow ourselves to be cunning enough to wait for the last minute to be brought into conversion we will find that we were nothing more then fools.
Let us not be foolish and pass by this headline as we have passed by the many absurd tabloids and their claims. The claim that is being made within today's Gospel is very true and is something that we will never be able to escape. Let us therefore hear these words and not quickly banish them from our minds, but allow them to truly soak into our very being. As these words begin to soak into our hearts and souls we should ask ourselves what is standing in the way of allowing ourselves to be drawn to Christ out of love. What are the sinful inclinations that are keeping us from "shining brightly" and thus keeping us in the darkness of night? No matter where we find ourselves spiritually we must ask ourselves what ways we will continue to challenge ourselves each day to hear the voice of Christ that is constantly calling out to us out of love. This great love is most perfectly expressed in our second reading when we heard that Christ was crucified upon the cross for each of our sins, and from this great gift comes the hope that we can be transformed like the wise who shall shine brightly.
And so my brothers and sisters in Christ as this liturgical year begins to draw to a close and from it we know that a new one will spring up and take its place. As we know that we are not immortal here on this earth and therefore a day will come when we will meet death. Let us begin to evaluate the ways that we can begin to follow after Christ fully. Let us evaluate the ways that we can be aided in not being surprised by this reality, but instead finding ourselves fully prepared for what is to come. May we no longer allow ourselves to pass by this headline without ceasing to question ourselves of how prepared are we actually, and how much do we only try to fool ourselves into thinking that we are fine and have nothing more that we need to give to Christ and His Church. We must not be foolish because as the end of the liturgical year is only the beginning of a new one; the end of life is the promise of life eternal.
May we heed this headline this day as we prepare ourselves to spend the rest of our lives sharing in the beatific vision of Heaven. May we do everyone that is possible to not be lazy and idle, but to fully hand ourselves over to Christ. Handing ourselves over in all of our fears, needs, and desires with the great great hope that our needs will be heard and provided for. May we take it upon ourselves to enter more and more each day into the life of the Church. Allowing ourselves to be nourished by the word of God and the teachings of the Church. Allowing ourselves to trust in the healing realities of the Sacraments especially the Body and Blood of Christ that will enter into our lives at this sacrifice of the Mass. May we also trust in that forgotten Sacrament of Reconciliation and come forward acknowledging that we are sinners who are in need of healing. Also from the busy world we must make time for quiet and thus make time for prayer. If we allow the presence of God to escape from our lives how can we ever hope to enter into this relationship with Him and finally hand ourselves over to conversion? May we heed this headline this day and not continue to take it for granted as if we have as much time as we need. Christ is our portion and cup and is ready for us to not delay, but to come to Him now so that we can receive the inheritance that He desires to bring into our lives.
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