The Sign

11-14-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The Solemnity of Christ the King marks the final Sunday of the liturgical year. As we approach this solemnity, the readings reflect the end time. The Gospel of Mark tells us today that the end will come, and only God the Father knows when it will happen. “The heaven and the earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” 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 itself will be transformed. God will then be all in all (1Cor. 15:28), in eternal life.” (CCC 1060)

Since the prophet Daniel lives before the time of Christ, he knows about the Kingdom of God in a limited way. But despite it, we see his prophetic insight about the end time, our ultimate destiny. His prophetic vision acknowledges a kind of resurrection, those who will rise to enter two contrasting conditions like heaven and hell. The letter to the Hebrews fills the gap of Daniel’s prophetic knowledge of the end time, how we can approach the end time with confidence. The key to salvation is Jesus Christ, the High Priest who made the perfect sacrifice; as a ransom for our sins.

We view the events described in the Gospel with the eyes of faith; the end time is not about losses but fulfillment. The Lord wants us to be spiritually awake and prepare our hearts when that time arrives. Preparing for the final victory at the end time without faith and hope for eternal life is the greatest tragedy for man. All things will pass away, but if we view them with the eyes of faith, we realize that the end time is not about losses but God fulfilling His promise. For this reason, Jesus sees the sprouting of the fig tree as a sign of fruitfulness and not desolation. We look at the end time with hope, not despair, because the Lord has saved us.

Communion with God, the true and perfect joy, the ultimate meaning of life is being with Jesus. Eternal life is this; that they know you, the one true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. (Jn. 17:3) The Lord 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 obligations; focusing on our relationship with God. The Gospel encourages us to know how to read the signs of the time and 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 that lead us to Jesus, but focus most especially on Jesus, in humility, and in prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.