Keep your heart steady...
Reflections on the readings for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 10, 2019): 2 MC 7:1-2,9-14; PS 17:1,5-6,8,15; 2 THES 2:16-3:5; LK 20:27-38
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
Today’s liturgical readings refer in some way to the question of everlasting life for the people of God.
The author of the second letter to the Thessalonians, possibly but not necessarily Paul, wants the early Christians to stand firm in the faith. They must not allow themselves to become distracted by some who think that the end of the world will soon be at hand. Nor should they fear any persecution that comes their way. They all need to trust in our Lord and stay hopeful through His grace. “The Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you, you are doing and will continue to do. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5).
In its first decades, the church of Thessalonica in Macedonia may have concentrated too much on the Second Coming of Christ and the Final Judgment. Today we probably do not think about these things enough. However, neither extreme is helpful to our lives as followers of Christ. The end of the world is in God’s hands. It is our personal responsibility to spend our time doing good, avoiding evil and, above all, embracing His love and sharing it with all we meet.
Suggested missionary action: We can make an effort to make our days on earth worthwhile. We can spend some time daily in prayer and in reading the Scriptures and learning about the lives and witness of the saints. Most importantly, we can strive to live as children of God, reaching out to our brothers and sisters in need.