Year B
Thirty-third
Ordinary Sunday
Images
We do not know the hour
Points to note
This reading is
rather topical, coming just two weeks before the start of Advent. However, in order not to anticipate the theme
waiting of Advent too much, we focus on what it is that we are not aware
of - the time of Jesus’ coming. In a way, this runs well into the theme of
Advent.
There are many
sects around who claim they know when is Jesus’ second coming. They get their adherents to sell all they
have and wait – typically at hill where Jesus will appear, conveniently
nearby. They are called millenarianists, meaning those who focuses on the
thousand years that they will reign with Christ. Not all millenarianists claim they
know the timing though and many are rather moderates in their views even as
they wait for Jesus. Some are considered
mainstream Christians (Seventh Day Adventists) while others are not accepted by
mainstream Christians as Christians (Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons). The rest are sects, Christian &
otherwise.
Catholic
teaching is that while we wait for the second coming of Jesus but we do not
know the hour nor do we attempt to find out.
The hour is not important in our faith – we just prepare ourselves
whatever the hour. I once asked a group
of children how long the season of Advent last.
One seven-year old child enthusiastically and definitively said
“Forever!” You know, she is right – it
lasts forever because we do not know the hour and so, we wait forever.
Liturgy
Acclamation before the Gospel
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Stay awake and stand ready,
because you do not know the
hour
when the Son of Man is
coming.
Alleluia!
Gospel
The
Lord be with you.
All: And
also with you.
A
Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Mark
(Mk 13: 24-32)
Jesus said, ‘In
those days, after the time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will
lose its brightness, the stars will come falling from heaven and the powers in
the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the
clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather
his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of
heaven.
‘Take the fig tree
as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know
that summer is near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that
he is near, at the very gates. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has
passed away all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass
away, but my words will not pass away.
‘But as for that day or hour,
nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the
Father.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Discussion
Have you ever
waited for anyone or anything? Discuss about waiting for Christmas to come,
or a birthday or a visit of a favourite relative from overseas. Take the example of Christmas and what they
do to prepare. Do not dwell on it as you
will be discussing it in greater detail next month. You can even talk about children being good
waiting for Santa Claus to come. Ignore
those older killjoys among the children trying to tell the younger ones there
is no Santa Claus.
What if you
were asked to prepare for Christmas but nobody knows the date? I
love the pause as the concept sink into the children. Some may even question the point of waiting
if that something may not even happen. Keep
it warm as it is a good question.
What if you had
a favourite relative who says that he/she will be coming for a visit but will
not tell you the date? He/she tells you
to get everything ready because he/she will be taking you on a journey. Discuss
what the children will do. Some will be
sceptical and I think it is healthy to be sceptical like this in today’s world.
Ask how do they feel if days turn into weeks,
weeks into months, and months into years as they wait?
Explain the church teaching on the Second
Coming. That Jesus will come again. It will be preceded by great suffering and
persecution of the Church but we do not know the details. Jesus will come in triumph to defeat evil and
usher in a period of paradise on earth where we will reign with him in
glory. He will also raise up all who are
dead (suggest you pass this part quickly if you are not prepared for awkward
questions – like what age will they be, etc – for which the Church do not have
definitive answers). That Jesus will
judge all the living and the dead.
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