THE DAY OF THE LORD

REFLECTION FOR 33RD SUNDAY OF YEAR C

THEME: THE DAY OF THE LORD

R1: Malachi 3:19-20

R2: 2 Thes 3:7-12

Gospel: Luke 21:5-9_

After the return of the Israelites from exile in Babylon, there was great suffering and hunger in the land. There was tyranny and unjust treatment of the poor. The people cried and  questioned, what is our gain for serving God? Why is it that evil people thrive while we are suffering, is it bad to serve God? It was these questions that prompted the prophecy of Malachi about the day Lord, which prepares us towards the last day. When that day comes, Malachi says, two things will happen: 

1. The evil-doors will be thrown away.

2. Those who fear the Lord will shine and be healed.

This prophecy of Malachi is both a warning and a hope. It is a warning to the doers of evil, that they may turn to the Lord and be saved. St Paul in the second reading clarifies that evil doers are those who have refused to work. They refused to make an effort to grow in their relationship with God, they see religion and Christianity as outdated and something that should be done away with. Rejecting God and his commands, they chose to live a life of idleness. Like those people in the gospel who went about spreading rumors about the beauty of the  temple without any intention of worshiping God, they admire the beauty of the world without acknowledging it’s creator. They say all sorts of things about Christianity and to redicle the people of God. For refusing to identify with God, they have made a wrong choice (away from God) which will lead them to destruction at last.

The fearers of God will shine when the day of the Lord comes but until then, they must be patient enough and should be prepared for continuous work of spreading the gospel by word and the way of life so that they will receive the reward of their labour when that day comes. While we wait for the Lord, we must be conscious of false prophets, who would want to seduce us into believing the wrong teaching or making a choice “away from God.” Be disposed for trying times and persecution  but do not prepare your defense, that is, do not rely on our own strength, be patient and persistent in your choice for God.

Just like the Israelites who returned from exile and faced different difficult times, we have also experienced similar situations, with the doers of evil succeeding while the righteous suffer. A time shall come when all these earthly beauty will not be remembered. The greatest beauty is that of the heart, the soul that seeks God. Even now that Christianity is facing different attacks from different sides, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. When the Lord comes, those who have made a choice away from him will be thrown out while those who made the choice of him will triumph.

*Rev Fr Chukwuemeka Vincent Livinus, SMMM.*