Gospel Reflection Nov 17 – Deacon Frank Iannarino
Sunday, November 17
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mk 13:24-32
Gospel:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“In those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
“And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’
with great power and glory,
and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.
“Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,
you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that he is near, at the gates.
Amen, I say to you,
this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
“But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Gospel Reflection:
I recently read about a woman who left instructions for her children that when she died, they should place on her grave a parking meter that read: “time expired.” Even in the face of death, she was obviously a lady with a good sense of humor.
As we rapidly approach the end of this liturgical year, “time expired” is also the theme of our readings this weekend at Mass. Our liturgical year began in Advent last November, and it ends right before another Advent begins in two weeks. Shortly after Advent and Christmas, we will see the end of 2024 and begin a new calendar year. As another year rapidly comes to an end, we are reminded that eventually all things will come to an end and eternity will begin.
We don’t like to think about time expiring, and the end of all things. Our good and loving Lord reminds us of those things because he knows that only those who have learned how to love in this life will be able to participate in the new creation that is built on love. Again and again, our Lord reminds us that the choices we make in this life will determine what is ahead for us in the next.
Our American culture today believes somehow everyone will end up happy in God’s kingdom. I wish that were so, but if it were to be that everyone ends up happy in God’s kingdom, why would Jesus have gone through so much in order to tell us it is important how we live our life now?
Not knowing when all these things may happen are not meant to frighten a person, unless they need to be frightened into living a good life. Hopefully, it should motivate us to be prepared. It should give us hope during any type of trial that our time and trial “now” is temporary, but “eternity “is forever.
Deacon Frank Iannarino