Nov 17th

Post date: Nov 18, 2019 5:14:8 PM

November 17, 2019 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

November is the month of remembering—All Saints, All Souls, and

Veterans. We think of all those who have gone,

but life does go on and so we think of those who remain—ourselves.

We are reminded on all sides that there are only so many days before

Christmas. We think of all the things we want to get and do.

Next Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King

and after that we start a new year with Christ.

In this way, the Church is wise because we are given a few weeks

to think about the future before we get too involved with the present.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his followers, as they were gazing at the

beauty of the Temple, that in no time at all

it would be in ruins with not a stone left standing on a stone. You can

imagine how shocked they were to hear this. To their way of thinking,

things would come and go but the Temple would go on forever.

Jesus knew that over the years there would be wars between countries and

wars between families, earthquakes and famines.

He said, ‘The end will not be then, but it will come.’

The sobering thought Jesus suggested then and his Church suggests

at this time each year is that there will always be endings.

This does not mean gloom and doom.

It does mean a realistic and down to earth assessment of how we stand

now before God and our family and friends. I have a feeling

that if we go away from Mass today still annoyed with one of those,

we have something important to do before we get entangled with preparations for Christmas.

We heard the apocalyptic language in our first reading.

“The day is coming, glowing like a furnace.”

Such fire will burn up the evil but warm and heal the just.

Today’s Gospel is especially alarming.

The destruction of Jerusalem is seen as prefiguring the end of the world,

an anticipation of God’s judgment on humankind.

It will not be a mere formality. “Enter by the narrow gate.”

No complacency there. Jesus says,

“By your perseverance you will secure your lives, save your souls.”

God tells us there are 4 things necessary for our salvation: Faith,

loving good works, His love and mercy and our persevering efforts.

Salvation is not a slide but a climb. What should be my Effort?

Active concern for others. When persecuted, see it as an opportunity

to share your faith and testimony.

An introverted Christianity in which the individual is

exclusively concerned with one’s own salvation is not Christianity at all.

Let us be like Simeon who was promised that he would see the Messiah

before he died. When he took the baby Jesus in his arms he prayed:

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared

in the sight of every people.

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.”