Readings: Malachi 3:19-20, Ps. 98:5-9, 2 Thess. 3:7-12, Luke 21:5-19
“As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (Luke 21:6)
Over the past few weeks, the central topic in our national newspapers has been the genocide of Christians following our designation as a country of particular concern and a subsequent tweet from the President of the United States. Today, we hear Jesus (in our Gospel passage) saying that as His followers, we shall face persecution and some of us will be put to death for His sake.
The truth is that everything with a beginning must have an end. Whether we face persecution or not, we cannot escape death and God’s judgment. Malachi reminds us that while evildoers will stumble, those who fear God will rise to eternal life. Our Psalmist declares, “God judges with fairness.” Surely, God cannot be bribed or threatened into delivering false judgment, a phenomenon we are used to in this country. There are many lessons for us today to take away:
1. This World is Passing Away: Nothing in this World Lasts Forever
Jesus saw how people admired the beauty of the Temple in all its splendour and shocked them by saying, “The days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” To truly understand what Jesus is saying, apply this statement of Jesus to everything you cherish right now.
St. John emphasises this point when he states: “Do not love the world or the things in the world… For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17).
The greatest mistake we can make is to sell our souls to the devil for material riches. As Jesus once asked: “For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mark 8:36). No wonder that when the devil tried to tempt Jesus with worldly wealth, He did not even consider it. (cf. Matthew 4:8-10)
2. Though we live in the World, We Do not belong to this World
Jesus clearly told us: “If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19). In fact, in today’s Gospel passage, we hear Jesus saying to us: “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons… You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; all will hate you for my name’s sake.” (Luke 21:12-17).
If the world despises us so much, how should we respond? First, remember that “though we live in the world we are not engaged in a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly.” (2 Corinthians 10:3). Therefore, Jesus says we should “not meditate beforehand how we are to answer.” The battle does not belong to us; our quarrel is not with human beings. “For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12).
Secondly, Jesus tells us: “By your endurance, you will gain your lives.” Never give up on doing what is right, even when it becomes painful. To endure is to continue serving God, even when you cannot find role models around you anymore. “Do not Give Up.” Keep carrying that cross; it will save your life in the end.
3. Take Heed that you are Not Led Astray by False Prophets
True to Jesus’ prediction, we live in an age of false prophets. St. John would say, “Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore, we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:18-19) Jesus told us: “many will come in my name… do not go after them.”
4. Get Busy; Use Your Talents, Work for Your Daily Bread
Some people heard sermons about the end of the world and decided they would do nothing but wait for that day. St. Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, seriously rebuked such individuals, saying that no one should be given anything to eat if they do not work. St. Paul reminded the people he worked with his own hands (as a tentmaker) to provide his daily bread.
The world will surely end, but that should not be an excuse for laziness. Even Jesus Christ worked as a carpenter. He was well known in his village, so much so that the people looked down on him when he visited and could not imagine how or where he had gained the wisdom to speak such gracious words. (Cf. Matthew 13:55-58).
5. Defending the Truth Amid Christian Persecution (Genocide)
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus prophesied, “You will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to 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.”
In the face of widespread attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria, there can be nothing more shocking than attempts to deny the ongoing genocide, even by persons in high places of authority. Many have even tried to explain it away or divert attention by saying that more Muslims have been killed than Christians. One cleric went as far as saying that the mass burials were stage-managed; that empty caskets were carried to make the world think there was a genocide. It has gotten so bad that many Christians are even afraid to say the truth lest they lose their jobs.
The hostility towards Christians is undeniable. Any effort to deny the ongoing genocide is akin to spitting on the graves of thousands who have been killed. The question is not whether Muslims were also victims; the issue is that the perpetrators are known, and the government’s attempts to bring them to justice or halt the killings are far from convincing. The government’s poor response to the crisis (which amounts to colluding with the killers) is not surprising. Jesus already predicted this a long time ago: “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake… but by your endurance you will gain your lives.” Stand firm, dear Christians, continue to let your light shine; the government is not going to save you, even if you are killed for the faith you profess. Just know that this world is not our home.
Conclusion
The Church carefully selected today’s readings because we are coming to the end of a liturgical year. Jesus tells us that there would be wars, tumults, terrorism, earthquakes, famines, pestilences and so on, but despite all these things, “do not be terrified.” Go about your daily activities, earn your daily bread, but in all you do, make sure you “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) so that when your death comes, you will be among those upon whom “the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings” as Malachi says in today’s first reading.
Let us pray: Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to you, for it is complete and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the author of all that is good. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: Malachi 3:19-20, Ps. 98:5-9, 2 Thess. 3:7-12, Luke 21:5-19)
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu