“Shine Brightly” By Rev. Paul Berghout (@FatherPB)

“Shine Brightly” By Rev. Paul Berghout

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

(From a homily preached at Our Lady of the Desert, Mattawa, WA.)

Piety

"But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever." (Daniel 12:3)

Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins.  But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.  For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.  Hebrews 10:11-14

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates.  Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”   Mark 13:28-31

Study

In a best-selling book that first came out in the late 80’s, Stephen Covey identified what he called the “seven habits of highly effective people.”  The second habit the author lists is: Begin with the End in Mind.

Today, on the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Readings are always on this theme of living with the “end of the world” in mind.

The background for this Sunday is that Christ will judge us twice:  immediately after our death and on the Last Day. The sentence given at the particular judgment will not be changed at the general judgment, but it will be repeated and made public to all.

For example, our First Reading tells us that there will be an eternal separation of the good from the wicked, and that “some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.” (Daniel 12:2)

This verse is important because it helps us to offset the “cultural cognitive distortions” that would have us believe that somehow everyone will end up happy in God’s heaven after they die, or that we can create our own reality by altering our consciousness by some New Age practice.

Although it is Christ’s will and our own that no one is lost, everyone nevertheless has a choice and “on the Day of Judgment all men will appear in their own bodies before Christ’s tribunal to render an account of their own deeds” (Catechism 1058-9).

Our eternity depends on it!

We are presented this Sunday with a view on human history, our histories, from the view of looking backward. 

Action

“No one can go back and make a brand-new start, my friend; but anyone can start from here and make a brand-new end.” ~Dan Zadra

This apocalyptic time that is coming, a time in which every single person who ever was conceived will be present, tells us that human affairs are thus set on a cosmic stage.  Our actions and thoughts have an eternal significance.

From our study, we also know that it is very wise to be and do those acts which will make our judgment a happy event.  These lead to our action:

First, do good works.

Our First Reading assures us that those who are wise will become radiant like the radiance of the firmament, and the ones who bring many to righteousness will become like the stars forever (Daniel 12:3).

Second, have a good conscience by frequenting on a regular basis the Sacrament of Penance.

St. Michael the Archangel will be used by God to defend us, as our First Reading says: "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people (Daniel 12:1).

In the decisive battle at the end of the world, Michael’s army is victorious. But, for us, now on earth, one of the duties of St. Michael is to protect the souls of the faithful from the power of Satan, especially at the hour of death.

This will happen in the realm of our conscience. If we can touch God at all, where do we touch him save in the conscience?

The root of the Greek word translated as "conscience," means to be aware. Conscience is the voice of God in the soul.

Since angels are the messengers of God, our conscience is the means through which ‘the better angels of our nature” communicate God’s will to us.

Beginning now with our end in mind is the way to spend the rest our days on earth proactively seeking to do good works and keep a good conscience.  

If we do, we can rejoice that names are written in the book of life. (Luke 10:20)