Ordinary Time 33 - November 17, 2019

Homily for November 17, 2019

Ordinary Time 33

The End and the Beginning

            Is Jesus talking about the end of the world in today’s Gospel? Certainly sounds rather apocalyptic. But He is actually talking about a historical event that was the end of a world, even if it wasn’t the actual end of everything.

            Remember, He was speaking to first-century Jews. For them, their religious and cultural world revolved around the Temple. The Temple was the sign of their unique identity, the place of worship, the symbol of how they were the Chosen People. And in 70 AD, the Temple was completely destroyed by the Romans. This would have been earth-shattering for Jesus’ Jewish listeners – it would have been the end of their Jewish world.

            But two years later, the other part of Jesus’ prophesy was fulfilled. Any Jewish follower of Jesus in the first century actually practiced both religions. They would have gone to synagogue on the Sabbath day, and then the next day they would have attended the “breaking of the bread” (aka Mass) on the Lord’s Day. But the Jewish leaders were none too happy to have these Jewish Christians joining them for worship. So in 72 AD, the Jewish leaders held a council in Jamnia, where they added to their synagogue liturgy curses upon anyone who believed in Jesus (these were called the Birkat haMinim). Essentially, this forbade Christian Jews from worshipping in the synagogue. It would have been the end of their world!

            But guess what? Instead of it being the end, it was also a beautiful beginning…because the Church was in its infancy, and would continue to grow and spread across the globe. Yes, it was a terrible tragedy to the Jewish Christians to have their Temple destroyed and to be expelled from the synagogues – but God had a better plan by giving them the Church as their new home.

            Have you ever felt like something was the end of the world for you? Perhaps it was the loss of a job, or financial misfortune; maybe it was a cancer diagnosis or the break-up of a marriage, maybe it’s a natural disaster or war. These can feel like catastrophes. But all things work for good for those who love God – even the things that seem like the end of our world!

Consider where and when Jesus gives these predictions. This passage is at the end of Luke’s Gospel, after Jesus enters into Jerusalem for Holy Week. He will be crucified in a few days. He knows that the Apostles’ faith will be shaken by the scandal of the Cross, and they will think that His death is the end.

But three days later, we know how it turns out – His death was not the end but the beginning of grace pouring forth into the world, as He rose from the dead. And for those who are in Christ, He “makes all things new” and can redeem even the worst situations.

But the key is in Jesus’ final words: “Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved.” Will you persevere in faith when your world collapses? It is said that during the Great Depression, atheists jumped out of windows while people of faith went back to work. Because even if you lose all your money, or have everyone close to you die, or whatever other tragedy befall you – if you trust in God and persevere in loving Him, then He will bring a new beginning out of the end.

Certainly the saints lived this out. St. Alphonsus Liguori is a perfect example of turning tragedy into something great. Growing up, he was destined for great things – he was the son of an Italian nobleman, and received the best education money could buy in the eighteenth century. He was so smart that he got his law degree at nineteen years old! He never lost a case in his first eight years of practicing law. Because of his stellar reputation, he was given a tremendously important case, which he studied for endlessly. Finally, the case was brought to court and he argued brilliantly, proud of himself and sure of the win. But lo and behold – he forgot about an important piece of evidence and the judge ruled against him! He was seen as an absolute fool. He felt like his career and reputation was ruined.

But in prayer after that legal disaster, he heard a voice saying, “Leave the world and give yourself to Me.” He became a priest and founded a religious congregation, the Redemptorists, which now has over 5,000 priests and brothers throughout the world. God had brought great good out of an abject failure…but He was not yet done with St. Alphonsus’ sanctification.

Alphonsus was the head of his religious order for many years, but toward the end of his life, his major benefactors began questioning the “Rule” (which is the document that acts as the Constitution to a religious order). They brought it before the King of Naples (where Alphonsus lived) and the King declared that he would personally change the Rule and expel Alphonsus from the order that he founded! He was kicked out of the order and forced to live his last years in exile. Another great tragedy – but one that God redeemed by teaching Alphonsus greater humility and trust. He died, a failure in the eyes of men – but was quickly declared a saint by the Church!

Disaster will befall us here on this earth – but he who perseveres in faith and trust until the end will find that all things will be made new and redeemed in Christ.