ENDURANCE IN A WORLD PASSING AWAY
Homily for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Malachi 3:19-20a; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19
As we approach the end of the liturgical year - and with it the approaching close of another calendar year - the Church invites us into a moment of sober reflection. Endings have a way of clarifying what truly matters. They strip away illusions, magnify what is essential, and remind us that time is not an infinite resource. The readings today draw our attention to the ultimate end- not simply of the year, but of history itself—and call us to live with wisdom, vigilance, and enduring faith.
The Gospel of Luke sets the tone. Jesus stands before the grandeur of the Jerusalem Temple - a magnificent structure admired by all - and declares that “not one stone will be left upon another” (Lk 21:6). Something so solid, so permanent, so glorious in human eyes, will one day crumble. Here, Jesus is not merely predicting the destruction of the Temple (which happened in AD 70); He is teaching a deeper truth: everything in this world is passing, only God’s kingdom endures. This message resounds as we conclude the liturgical year - an invitation to examine our attachments. What structures in our lives do we assume will last forever? Wealth? Power? Institutions? Even our own strength?
Jesus goes further: wars, earthquakes, famines, persecutions - all these will shake the foundations of the world. Yet His command is clear: “Do not be terrified” (Lk 21:9). The Christian life is not built on fear but on faith. The chaos of the world does not signal God’s abandonment but becomes, in Jesus’ words, “your opportunity to bear witness” (Lk 21:13). The crisis of the world becomes the stage of Christian testimony. When everything else collapses, the Christian stands firm—not by personal strength but because Christ Himself promises wisdom and endurance.
This theme of endurance is echoed in St. Paul’s exhortation to the Thessalonians. He warns against idleness, disorder, and the complacency that often comes when people think the end is near. Some had stopped working, assuming Christ’s return was imminent. But Paul insists on responsibility: “Anyone unwilling to work should not eat” (2 Thess 3:10). His point is not harshness but discipleship. Christian expectation of the end must never lead to escapism or laziness. To wait for the Lord is to be faithful in ordinary duties, to work quietly, responsibly, and honestly. True readiness for the end is not speculation but stewardship.
Malachi in the first reading brings a final perspective: the end is not merely destruction—it is purification and healing. “The day is coming” - a day when evil is burned away like chaff, but for those who fear the Lord, “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings” (Mal 3:20). The end is both judgment and restoration. God’s justice is not vengeance but the setting-right of all things. For the righteous, the final day is not a threat but a dawn.
Dear friends, as the year winds down, these readings call us to three spiritual attitudes. First, detachment: everything earthly is temporary; God alone is permanent. Second, vigilance: crises and trials are not signs of abandonment but moments to witness to Christ. Third, endurance: salvation is not for the fearful but for those who persevere.
Jesus concludes with a promise: “By your endurance you will gain your lives” (Lk 21:19).
As the world shifts and the year draws to its end, may we hold fast to the One who never passes away.
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