It's the end of the world as we know it; and I feel fine! So sang REM many years ago; one of many references to the end of the world. Man, for centuries, has tried to predict the end of the world. Many signs, many world events have been used to predict the end of the world. Remember Y2K, or the Mayan calendar, 12-21-2012. For me, the closest thing I've ever witnessed to the end of the world was when the Saints actually won the Super Bowl. Maybe hell froze over, but the world most certainly did not end!
As people of faith we are called to be prepared for the end of the world as we know it by living every day, every moment fully and for Jesus Christ!
Both the 1st reading today from the prophet Daniel and our Gospel from St. Mark are about end times; apocalyptic! It's pretty descriptive too, the sun and the moon turn dark and stars fall from the sky. This does not sound pleasant or something we would look forward to. When Jesus speaks in today's Gospel is he talking about the end of the world? Is he describing His second coming? More specifically, Jesus was prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple; an actual historical event that did happen in 70 A.D. Still Jesus is telling his followers and all of us to be prepared without wasting time fixated or trying to predict the end of the world.
Not as readily evident in these teachings of Jesus is His encouragement to live every day to the fullest. Jesus does not want any of us to cower in fear about the end of the world or to give up on our hopes and dreams and life because the world is going to end, someday. Jesus wants us to get up and go to work, go to school, love our families, love our neighbor, drink in the beauty of God's creation, participate fully in the life of the Church and to glorify, praise and worship God. That's how we prepare for the end of the world as we know it. That's how we press on in this life with joy!
The truth about the end of the world as we know it is most likely our own individual deaths. As a Christian, this too is nothing to fear. By God's grace and Jesus' tremendous gift of love on the cross, we know that the promise is eternal life for all of us in Heaven. That's the promise, but we have to accept God's grace, we have to accept Jesus' death as pure gift for us. When death comes in our lives we recognize that we are sad, we mourn. It's only natural to miss our loved ones and experience grief. But our sincere hope and a source of great joy is the hope of eternal life with God in Heaven.
Despite the very real promise of eternal life, the consistent teaching of the Catholic Church includes the pious practice of praying for our beloved dead. In November, we especially remember the dead with the celebrations of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Why pray for the dead then? Let's talk about Purgatory.
Without wavering or contradiction the Catholic Church teaches that Purgatory is very real. Over the years, an appreciation for what Purgatory is and is not has been communicated to the faithful. Simply, Purgatory is a state of final purification after death and before entering Heaven. Now let's be clear, a soul in Purgatory is headed for Heaven. Purgatory is not an either/or proposition. The saved, not fully purified, first go to Purgatory. Scripture reminds us that nothing unclean shall enter Heaven (Rev. 21:27) Scripture also reminds us that we must be sanctified (Romans 5:3-5) and (2 Thessalonians 2:13). One thing the Church reminds all of us is that souls in Purgatory do benefit from our prayers. Prayers for our beloved dead and all the Holy Souls in Purgatory are a help in the journey from Purgatory to Heaven. We should always pray for our beloved dead. Even if we are convinced that our relative or friend must certainly be in Heaven, these prayers are not a waste of time. Quite frankly, you and I do not know the status of another's soul. Pray for the beloved dead!
In the week ahead perhaps we can renew our understanding of Purgatory by reading at home the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The pertinent paragraphs are 1020 thru 1065. And if we have not been doing so consistently, add a daily prayer, at a minimum for the dead and all the poor souls in Purgatory. Finally, let's follow Jesus in preparing for the end times, even if that means our own death; follow God's commands, love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves, and quit worrying or predicting the end of the world. Be prepared yes; worry, no!
It's the end of the world as we know it; and I feel fine!
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