The End of the World As We Know It
Jonah 3.1-5, 10, Ps 25, 1 Corinthians 7.29-31, Mark 1.14-20
In case you just stumbled out from a cave, having been asleep for the last year or so, I have to let you know of this persistent rumour going around. The world as we know it coming to an end on December 21, 2012. That is exactly 11 months to the day from when I am writing this piece.
Sure there have been many such predictions in the past that have come to nothing. In fact last year Harold Camping of Family Radio in California predicted that the end was coming…twice. Unfortunately for Harold and his followers, life goes on. But this time its for real… Maybe.
There was some confusion about this very thing in the early life of the Church. When Jesus ascended into heaven he promised his disciples that he would return again one day.(Acts 1.9-12) Problem was, he didn’t say when. Since then believers, followers, scholars and prognosticators have been trying to nail down the day and the hour without much success.
St Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, seems to be advocating for a rather short time line. He advises those who are married to live as though they are not married, those who are not married to not consider getting married and the rest to just forget their woes and joys and focus on being ready for the end. Perhaps this sounds silly to us that are still here 2000 years later. But did Paul’s message and maybe the other doomsayers out there have a point that we should really consider?
In the first reading today we find the prophet Jonah grudgingly on his way to Nineveh to bring the message that God’s wrath was going to overthrow the city if they didn’t mend their ways. Jonah fully expected that he would be a laughing-stock. He wondered why God didn’t just save him some time and smite the city as it was. But something unusual happened. The people actually listened to Jonah. When the prophet began to preach to the Ninevites they sat-up and took notice. They listened to what it was that Jonah has to say even though the message was difficult. The people actually changed. Their hearts turned right around and they realized that they were on wrong path and they wanted to do something about it
Could this be the value of End-of-the-World slogans? That they make us sit up and take note? If that is a bit of a stretch for you then consider this. We are all on a very short timeline. Like the grass we sprout in the morning but then wither and fade away by nightfall.(Job 14.1-2) Our time on this earth is very finite. What are you doing with your time? What are your priorities? How do you want to be remembered?
Jesus told his disciples that no one knew the hour that he would return but he did ask us to be ready. (Mat 25.1-13)
Fr. Jon,
Thank you for this thought-provoking post and for all of your posts. You give me much to ponder as I read your words in the morning and consider them throughout each day.
Today’s was especially meaningful to me. As the youngest of nine (six of us girls) I have a close relationship with my sisters. Five of us still live in the same city and we gather monthly to pray the rosary and visit. Three of my sisters are very certain that the world will end in our lifetime. We were brought up to believe in and fear “The Three Days of Darkness.”
I have never been able to accept the warnings that the world as a whole will end in any dramatic once and for all catastrophe. I believe that the end of the world will come for each of us individually on the day that the Lord calls us home and that we “do not know the day nor the hour” so we should constantly remain vigilant. Any major natural disaster is an end of the world for those who suffer through it. 9/11 was the end of the world. My own personal death will be the end of the world.
And maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it will be a once and for all thing, but it still doesn’t change the fact that each and every one of us needs to be constantly vigilant and prepared for that final hour when our life on this earth will come to an end.
Thank you for this reminder to that effect. God bless you, my friend!
(And thank you for your nice words about my friend Susi’s post-you made her very happy!)
Hi Anne
I find it sad that for so many people Christianity and fear seem to go hand in hand. The Redemptorists used to be infamous for literally scaring the hell out of people with their missions sermons. Granted they would end the mission on a positive note but I still thank damage was done. Fear is a very strong motivator for the short term but it does not last and is does not make good Christians. Love is the ticket. Knowing that we are loved displaces fear and loving others is the best preaching we can offer.