The End Times: Focusing on Hope and Trust

11-17-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

As we approach Christ the King, the Gospel speaks about the events that will unfold at the end times, which worries and scares us. So, Jesus warns His disciples not to focus on fear which could paralyze and even overwhelm us but instead on trust and hope and on salvation and eternal life.

The words of Jesus point to the end of time and the second coming. The end times will surely come; no one knows when because only God the Father knows when it will happen.“

The heaven and the earth will pass away, but my words will not.”When it comes, the Catechism tells us:“At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. Then the Just will reign with Christ forever, glorified in body and soul, and the material universe will be transformed. God will then be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28), in eternal life.” (CCC 1060)

Since the prophet Daniel lived centuries before Christ, he had a limited vision of the events that would usher the Kingdom of God. But still, there is wisdom in his prophetic insight about the end time, our ultimate destiny. His prophetic vision acknowledges the reality of resurrection, where souls face two contrasting conditions heaven and hell. The letter to the Hebrews fills the gap left by this prophetic vision of the end time by showing how to approach it. Hebrews affirms and introduces the necessity of salvation through Jesus Christ. He is the High Priest who makes the perfect sacrifice He has made forever those who consecrate themselves.

Because the Gospel portrays end time events that evoke fear, we need to see it in the eyes of faith and not be paralyzed by fear of what may or may not happen. What happens will happen whether we know or like it or not. Why waste time trying to control it Let go and let God. We must learn to trust a power greater than ourselves to live a peaceful life.

The goal of man is complete communion with God. The true and perfect joy is the ultimate meaning of life being with Jesus. Eternal life is this to know you, the one true God, and the one you sent, Jesus Christ (Jn. 17:3).He alone does not change or pass away His Words are eternal. Preparing for the end time means reflecting on the word of the Lord. To be enlightened by the word and living by the WORD.

Many of us have difficulty living up to our faith, partly because we practice our religion based on fear. We obey and comply to be on the safe side and to make sure we gain salvation. To put our faith into practice means growing out from mere compliance and obligation while focusing on our relationship with God. The Gospel encourages us to know how to read the signs of the time go beyond the signs of His coming and focus on the person Himself, Jesus Christ. Build a loving relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, and not try to manipulate Him with our show of piety and devotion. Focus not only on the signs of times but especially on saying YES to Him in humble prayer. Sometimes, a simple “YES” to life and His WILL is all we need.

Lord, may my life be Thine, may my exit be kind, and may eternity be mine through Your Divine Mercy