We are very quickly approaching the end of the liturgical year. In just a couple of weeks, we’re going to begin the season of Advent, the official start of the new liturgical calendar. But before we get there, the Church is reminding us somewhat of a sobering reality. In her wisdom, She turns our attention to a time that is important for us to reflect on: the end times, the final judgment, and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan for humanity.

Today’s readings, taken from the book of Daniel and the Gospel of Mark, might come off as a bit intense and maybe even unsettling. The point of them though…they’re meant to wake us up, to stir our hearts, to call us to action. The Church doesn’t bring these times up as a scare tactic, as a way to get us to submit out of fear to living a life centered on God and His commandments. So, before we allow anxiety to creep in, let’s kind of unpack what God is truly saying to us today.

In our first reading, we hear of a time of “unsurpassed distress.” This message is spoken to a people facing tremendous persecution and suffering under the reign of Antiochus IV. He had conquered Jerusalem, offered sacrifice to Zeus on one of the temple altars, and sought to force the people of Israel to embrace the Greek culture. Yet, in the midst of that dark time, Daniel offers a message of profound hope. He tells the Israelites: “At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book.” It was a reminder to the Jewish people that God had not abandoned them. That even in the most desperate of circumstances, in moments of great trial and tribulation, God remains their protector and redeemer.

And then Daniel goes further, speaking of the resurrection of the dead: “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.” That sounds kind of glum, doesn’t it? In those words, we’re confronted with the reality that this life is not the end. There is something more to come. There is a reality beyond just our earthly existence. And that’s something we absolutely believe as Christians.

Through Daniel, the Lord is telling us that there will come a time when every soul must stand before God, a God who is both merciful and just. Our choices, our actions, our fidelity to Him in this life will carry eternal weight. But notice the promise given to those who are faithful. Daniel says: “The wise shall shine brightly… and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.” That’s the promise of God, that’s the hope that we’re called to embrace. We are being reassured that if we seek to live in the ways of the Lord, if we strive to be enlightened by the wisdom of God, then we can be lights in the darkness and guide others to God’s truth.

In our Gospel, Jesus continues this theme, using apocalyptic language: “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky.” That might bring to the surface of our hearts a sense of awe, of fear, of reverence, but also of urgency. And yet, as terrifying as these descriptions might seem to us, the reason that Jesus is sharing this message to His disciples and to us is not to inspire fear but to make us more vigilant; it’s meant to inspire a sense of hope. How so? Because Jesus assures us that He will return.

A point of interest here, Jesus does not tell us precisely when these events are going to happen. That’s deliberate. It’s not about predicting when the end will come; instead, it’s about being ready whenever it does come. Think of it this way, an example: when you know that you have guests coming to your house, but they haven’t told you exactly when they’re going to arrive, what do you do? How do you prepare? You make sure things are in order, you make sure the house is ready, you have some food and drinks set aside, so that when the guests do finally arrive, things are good to go. Jesus is calling us to live in that same state of readiness – keeping our hearts aligned with His, loving one another, staying true to our faith, striving to grow in holiness, and placing our hope in His promise of salvation.

So, what does that “readiness” look like for us? It means staying close to the Lord in prayer and through the sacraments. It means serving the least among us. It means forgiving those who have hurt us and seeking forgiveness ourselves. It means living with our eyes not just on this world, but on eternity. That might sound a bit overwhelming; it’s definitely not the easiest road to walk. But remember, we don’t do it alone. Jesus walks with us every step of the way.

Today we are being challenged to live with purpose. We are reminded that while this world will pass away, God’s love for us never will. God’s mercy is always within reach. He invites us, with each new day, to recommit ourselves to Him. So, a good point of reflection for us this week: How are we living out our faith? Are we ready to meet the Lord whenever He comes – whether at the end of time or simply at the end of our time?

We don’t know that day or hour…but we do know this – Jesus is coming soon, and He wants us to be with Him forever. Let’s live with that hope, that urgency, and that joy.

Photo: La cruz el Domingo de Resurrección, Cdoncel. Used under Unsplash license.