The readings for mass today are pretty somber, especially the first reading from the book of the prophet Joel. It sounds like he is preparing the people for war and destruction, beginning with the priests. He told them all to tremble for the day of the Lord was coming. “Yes, it is near, a day of darkness and of gloom, a day of clouds and somberness! Like dawn spreading over the mountains, a people numerous and mighty! Their like has not been from of old, nor will it be after them, even to the years of distant generations.”
This sounds like a widespread catastrophe, the likes of which the world has never known. Kind of like World War II. We would never wish for a war of this kind to ever be waged on the earth again. However, it is possible. Christ did teach us that the world would one day come to an end in a catastrophic manner. (Mark 13: 5-27) Everyone seriously thinks it couldn’t possibly happen in their lifetime, that the end of the world will come at some distant date in the future. But, what if it were to happen in our lifetime? How would you want to spend the end of your life? The reading from the book of Joel is not all that terrifying if you look at it from this perspective. If the end of the world was to come, or our country was to be annihilated by a foreign people, then we can take comfort in these scriptures. They speak of the unity with God’s people, when facing a terrible, but uncertain future. The prophet Joel called them together to pray and fast and face the future together as one people.
The gospel reading today continues the theme of unity. Jesus explained the destruction that occurs because of a lack of unity in today’s gospel, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?”
Christ goes on to speak of war, “When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
These are some pretty somber words that Christ spoke in today’s gospel. Christ calls his people to unity not division. It makes you think. If we were to suddenly face a world war again, it could be catastrophic and it is uneasy times that we are all currently living in. Many think the scriptures about the end of the world are being fulfilled right now, during our lives. As Catholics, we do not concern ourselves too much about the end times, rather we believe in focusing on our relationship with God and one another, whatever times we should live in. But, never the less, we should be willing to face the end of the world, if God should will it. The thing is, that we do not need to fear this, because we can gather together as one people, the way the priests and congregation did in the first reading for mass today did. We will face the end of the world together as one people. Where else would you want to be than with those you love, in the company of God’s holy people?
Today might be a good day to be a little more aware of our own mortality and how we would like to spend the rest of our lives. We think we have all the time in the world, but we might not.
Daily Mass Readings:
Jl 1: 13-15, 2: 2-12 / Ps 9: 2-3, 6, 8-9, 16 / Lk 11: 15-26
