One night in 1983, over ten million television viewers saw the movie “THE DAY AFTER!” Filmed in Lawrence, Kansas; it portrayed what that city would be like after a nuclear attack. Just before the film began, a warning flashed on the screen saying: “Because of its graphic portrayal of a nuclear war, this film may be unsuitable for children. ‘Parental Guidance is advised’. The warning was well given. For during the two hours and eight minutes, the movie showed shocking death and destruction. The script too, was shocking and disturbing. It made the viewers realize that the possibility of nuclear attack was greater than we had ever imagined.
The words and images of today’s Gospel are reminiscent of the words and Images of that film. JESUS portrays for us graphically, the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. For Jesus, the destruction of these two things, was equivalent to the end of the world. Precisely for this reason, the Church uses this Gospel passage as one its readings for the end of the Liturgical Year C. It wants us to reflect on the end of the world. It wants us to reflect on that moment when the world, as we know it, will pass away. It wants us to ask ourselves; how prepared will we be for that moment when it comes?
Let us do this together now. Let us choose just one aspect of our Christian Way of living. Let us choose the most important one – LOVE. Let us now ask ourselves three (3) questions about LOVE. FIRST: How loving are our thoughts – right now in our own life? SECOND: How loving are our words – right now in our own life? THIRD: How loving are our actions – right now in our own life? If we aren’t doing too well in these areas now, what makes us think, we will do any better in the future? Let us now pause for a moment… Let us now close with a simple prayer.
Lord, give a MIND that will think thoughts that are kind and fair.
Lord, give us LIPS that will speak words that are true and charitable.
Lord, give us HANDS that will do DEEDS that are modelled after the ones you did for the people in your own life time.
In putting this prayer into practice, we thus prepare ourselves for the end of our personal lives and for the end of the world. “By your PERSEVERANCE, you will secure your lives.” AMEN!
#153. A JOKE FROM ST. JOE describing the END OF THE WORLD. A fire-up preacher was drawing from his supply of images to describe the END OF THE WORLD. “Thunder will boom,” he fulminated. “Rivers will overflow. Flames will shoot down from the heaven and the earth will quake violently. Darkness will fall over the world,” he warned. Whereupon, a toddler by now panicking in the congregation nudged his father and asked, “Papa, will they close classes?” During Christ’s time, people were greatly perturbed about the end of the world. But like that young boy who blissfully ignorant about its full import, Jesus Christ tells us not to be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not so soon. (Lk. 21:9)
This week, on the 15th, we have the feast day of St. Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, also patron of scientists. On the 16th, we have the optional memorials of Sts. Margaret of Scotland and Gertrude, both Virgins. The feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious is on the 17th. She was also patroness of the Franciscan Third Order and of Catholic Charities. On the 18th, we celebrate the Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul and we remember also St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin (USA) and called her “the woman who prays always.” This is all for now, watch for the next bulletin. God Bless!
Your Priest-Servant and Parochial Administrator,
Fr. Reggie
