Be Vigilant and Prepared

Nov.15th, 2009 Sunday Homily: Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI, MSW

Dan. 12:1-3; Heb 10:11-14, 18; Mk 13:24-32
For Readings:
http://www.usccb.org/nab/111509.shtml

French prophet and astrologer Nostradamus (1503-1566) foretold that the world would end when Easter fell on April 25. This happened in 1666, 1734, 1886 and 1943; it will occur again in 2038. Scientists, also, have fueled public anxiety by citing a series of possible ways including nuclear war and collision with a comet in which the world could come to an end. The Jehovah’s Witnesses frightened gullible followers at least 3 times during the last century with their “end of the world” predictions in 1914, 1918 and 1974. It is this paranoid fear that led people to die in the mass suicides organized by Heaven’s Gate and Jim Jones.

This is how modern man reacts to the reality of the coming of the end of the world. But in today’s readings the Church wants to remind us that this universe will come to an end one day. Then Christ will gather his faithful followers from the corners of this earth. We must always be ready to face our judgment for we know not the day nor the hour when we will be called from this life. When or how this world will end is of no great importance to us; what is important is that one day we shall leave this world and our eternity will depend on the state of our conscience at the moment of our departure.

The first reading, from the Book of Daniel with its vision of the Archangel Michael, awakening those who sleep in the dust of the earth, was originally written to comfort and give hope to the Jewish people, persecuted by a cruel pagan king. The second reading, consoles believers suffering from “endtime phobia” with the knowledge that Jesus, who sits forever at God’s right hand, is our mediator and we are perfected and sanctified. Today’s gospel offers hope to the early Christians persecuted by the Roman Emperor Nero, reminding them of Jesus’ words about His glorious return to earth as judge with great power and glory to gather and reward his elect. Though Daniel and Mark describe frightful scenes, their accounts also remind their audience that God will ensure that the righteous will survive the ordeal and will find a place with Him. Through the parable of the fig tree, Jesus warns us all to read the “signs of the time,” and be ever prepared, because we do not know “either the day or the hour”.

God in His mercy is calling on each one of us to be ready when our call comes. Hence today’s readings give us the assurance that our God will be with us all the days of our lives and we will have the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst guiding, protecting and strengthening us in spite of the uncertainty concerning the ‘end times’.

Let us appreciate the truth that our death on earth is not the end of life but rather the beginning of the true life that will never end. As the liturgy says in the Mass for the Dead, ‘Life is changed by death not taken away’. Our death is the doorway through which we pass into the unending life. The years on earth are a gift of God to enable us to earn the infinitely greater gift, which in His loving mercy He has prepared for us from all eternity. Let our prayer and life be oriented towards this greater gift of heavenly peace. God bless you.

Generosity of Humble Widow

Nov.8th , 09 Sunday Homily: Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI, MSW

I KGS 17: 10-16; Heb 9:24-28; Mk 12: 38-44
For Readings click:
http://www.usccb.org/nab/110809.shtml

On July 26th, 2009 ‘Sacramento Bee’ reported a news regarding five jurors who rolled up their sleeves and served hot dogs and hamburgers joining ‘Christian homeless outreach group Project 61’ to approximately 250 homeless people under the 12th Street bridge, Sacramento to honor Wentworth's life and contributions to the homeless community. "The first time I met Wentworth I had just gotten out of jail," said Hill a homeless man. "It was cold and raining. I was looking for a dry place, and he came up and offered me a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of pants. He kept me from freezing." Who was that Wentworth? Wentworth was a homeless man who was helping other homeless people with whatever he had for himself. He was a ‘man of giving’. In today’s gospel Jesus praises the widow’s contribution who donated everything she had without keeping anything for herself.

There are two separate incidents in today’s Gospel: Jesus’ warning against hypocrisy and praise of widow’s generous tiny donation to charity. In the First reading a poor widow, who had barely enough food for herself and her son, welcomed the prophet Elijah as a man of God, shared her food with him. The second reading tells us how Jesus, as the High Priest of the New Testament, surrendered His life to God His Father totally and unconditionally, as a sacrificial offering for our sins. In the gospel it was not the widow's poverty that made her gift significant for Jesus, but it was the fact that this widow alone, among all the contributors lined up to give their offerings, gave all keeping nothing for herself.

Jesus’ severe condemnation of those Scribes whose exaggerated opinion of their own importance made a mockery of the religion they professed to live, is a serious warning to all followers not to look for praise and esteem of our neighbors when doing our good works, but rather to hope for God’s praise and esteem in the future world. What He is condemning is the hypocrisy of those who act on their predominant vice, namely pride and prayers of those, which are intended not to give glory to God but to earn the glory of their fellowmen for themselves. A follower of Christ should not try to make display of gifts which are not his/her own, nor try to exalt himself above his/her neighbor because of something he/she has which was not given to the neighbor. There can be no true love of neighbor where there is pride.

The story of widow’s contribution highlights true humility and charity. The poor widow, forgetful of herself and of her needs gave even her last penny to help others who were in need. She made this sacrifice without publicity and without seeking the praise of her neighbors. It is this deep contrast between her outlook on life and on religion, and that of the Scribes in the first part that connects the two incidents. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the reward. Let us pray and work for grace to live this gospel message in its spirit. God bless you.