Lead, kindly Light!

Eschatological texts on yet another Sunday correlate the end of the liturgical year with the end of the world. Before we close the year with the Solemnity of Christ the King next Sunday, the Church invites us to imbibe the Biblical teachings about the end times.

The First Reading (Mal 4: 1-2) speaks of a chastisement of the Israelites (which, unfortunately, included their priests in post-exilic Jerusalem), for laxity in their social and religious conduct.

Today’s passage from Malachi is brief, but its message is loud and clear. It dwells on the day of Judgment, when the wicked will, like the stubble, be devoured by the flames. And for those who fear the Lord, “the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.” No two ways about that.

Malachi is the last of the eighteen prophetic books and of the Old Testament. In pointing to the coming of the Lord, it carried a message of hope. Approximately five hundred years later, our Divine Lord, “the sun of righteousness,” came into the world to address people of goodwill. Thus, the Book of Malachi builds a bridge with the New Testament, especially in the absence of any other prophetic record in the intertestamental period.

In the Second Reading (2 Thes 3: 7-12), St Paul addresses the slothful members of his community. Whereas the Apostle to the Gentiles was very concerned about setting a good example, his followers had begun taking things for granted and even lived off the charity of fellow Christians. Therefore, he urges both the pastor and the pauper to eat their food with the sweat of their brow: “If any man will not work, neither let him eat.”

Does that mean anything to the Christian community of the twenty-first century? If we are wayward or merely basking in past glory, we are in trouble. It is high time we pondered whether we, as leaders and followers, parents and children, priests and laity, have exerted ourselves enough to ensure that tomorrow will belong to us! Let us get our act together, that His Kingdom will come here on earth and that we will inherit Heaven. No gains without pains!

In the Gospel (Lk 21: 5-19) we hear the words that Jesus spoke to His Apostles when His Passion and Death was at hand. Just in case they had thought that a life in the Lord’s service would be a cakewalk, Jesus forewarns them that proclaimers of the Good News might in fact be assaulted, convicted, jailed, and even killed.

In other words, following Christ involves renunciation and suffering; we are called to be committed, to take an unambiguous position, and not run with the hare and hunt with the hounds! This is a little cross we need to bear as an infinitesimal share in the mighty Cross that Our Lord and Master carried to Calvary.

Through it all, we need to fix our gaze on His Divine Face and not on the temple’s façade and interiors that are “adorned with noble stones and offerings.” Vanities will meet their nemesis: “There shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Strong words, indeed, which we would do well to heed while it is time. Let’s apply them to our situation in Goa and in the world.

It is not clear as crystal when this will happen, yet the secret of our holy success will depend on our sticking with the Lord through thick and thin. Behold the Lord’s words of caution: “Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified: for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

Jesus is our Light and Life! Lead, kindly Light, even as we witness nations rising against nations; earthquakes, famines, floods, and pestilences devastating the earth. When we watch the Light amid the encircling gloom, we will not be afraid. We have nothing to fear when we are with the Lord—the Lord is with us! We can be sure that we will not be left to the designs of the evil one. None should draw back when, in the horror of horrors, “you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death.” And, miracle of miracles, you and I need not even “meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict,” says the Lord.

As the liturgical year draws to a close, it is highly recommended that we take stock of our spiritual baggage and ponder on the inescapable fact of our individual and collective end, praying with Cardinal Newman:

[A]long the narrow, rugged path, 
Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Saviour, lead me home in childlike faith,
Home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.