Apocalyptic writings, such as those of Daniel and the passage from St. Mark that we heard in Sunday Mass two weeks ago, use vivid imagery to depict old ways destroyed and new ones begun. Every year has its troubles but also the possibility of renewal. Each year calls us to look at how we grow in our faith, letting go of practices that do not benefit us and taking on new ways of approaching God. The epistle to the Hebrews says that Jesus, our high priest, offered himself once and for all to take away our sins. But he also ordered us to remember that sacrifice often through the Mass so that we maintain our hope and keep moving forward. In the liturgy we ritualize the story of our salvation. We know from Scripture that this story will end with the second coming of Christ. However, before that last scene of salvation, there will be great calamities and the world as we know it will end. But when will that be? Every age has known its evils both natural and man-made.
There are lots of signs of evil around us now. A pandemic comes without warning. Global warming is coming with frightening speed. Financial inequality is leaving half the world in poverty. In our own country, white supremacy, thought to be mostly gone, is regaining the minds and souls of a near majority of voters. Truth counts no more; conspiracy theories are more convincing. St. Luke says that before the end of the world men and women will become “anxious over the roaring and surging of the sea (and) the forces of heaven will be shaken loose.” Could that refer to hurricanes?
We have to remember a little history here. Jesus’ words in the Gospel were prophetic. Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the temple only 37 years after he ascended into heaven. Many Jews lost their lives in the putting down of their rebellion. But as Jesus warned, no one but God the father knows when it will “all” end. St. Paul had to warn the Thessalonians that “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over, and we have work to do until then.” Some of them were just waiting for it to be all over. To them St. Paul said, “If anyone will not work, let him not eat.” We too have a lot of people to take care of now. In the meantime, the great American poet Robert Frost had a realistic view of human evil, which is the real culprit of our problems:
Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if I had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate to say that for destruction ice is also great
And would suffice.
Frost is right. While we fear pandemics and global warming, two passions can destroy our earth and us from within. One is the fire of desire. He means a disordered desire to get, to amass, to possess a grasping greed for riches, power and domination. The other passion is the ice of hate. From anti semitism, white supremacy, guns for everybody with no control, to terrorism, we create our own self destruction.
There is much that Christ needs us to do. We cannot lose hope, we cannot stop being his hands and feet to bring care and healing to others here and around the world. There is another summary of our task as Christians written in a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Its title is “The Cry of the Children.”
Do ye hear the children weeping,
O my brothers,
Ere the sorrow comes with years?
They are leaning their young heads against their mothers, And that cannot stop their tears.
The young lambs are bleating in the meadows, The young birds are chirping in the nest,
The young fawns are playing with the shadows, The young flowers are blowing toward the west-
But the young, young children, 0 my brothers, They are weeping bitterly!
They are weeping in the playtime of the others,
In the country of the free.
“To him who has been given much, much will be required,” Jesus told us. It will not be his last coming, but Jesus is here present now in his word, in our hearts and on our altars. When Saul (to become St. Paul) was knocked to the ground on the road to Damascus, he asked, “What shall I do Lord?” His answer was, “Rise and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” We just have to go wherever there are people in need, pray and listen to the Lord. Then we will know what to do.
Father Carville is a retired priest in the Diocese of Baton Rouge and writes on current topics for The Catholic Commentator. He can be reached at [email protected].