Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, C

            Malachi 4: 1-2a

            Ps. 98

            II Thessalonians 3: 7-12

            Luke 21: 5-19

The readings are concerned today with the End Times.  The First Reading, from the book of the prophet Malachi, describes the “day of the Lord” as a day that will judge evildoers “by fire,” but will bathe the righteous in the light of the “sun of justice, with its healing rays.”  The Responsorial Psalm picks up on this eschatological theme, and sings “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.”  The Gospel is a piece of apocalyptic literature; it comments on something that was happening at the time the Gospel was written.  Its application to us is in its commands:  “Do not be misled.”  “Do not follow [the false Christs].”  Most of all, “By patient endurance you will save your lives.”  Despite all that has and may happen, God will bring good out of it.

The passage from Malachi, when quoted from the Authorized Version, gave Charles Wesley the image that comes from the second stanza of “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing:”

            Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!

            Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!

            Light and life to all He brings,

            Ris’n with healing in His wings!

            Mild He lays His glory by,

            Born that man no more may die;

            Born to raise the sons of earth,

            Born to give them second birth.

            Hark! the herald angels sing:

            “Glory to the new-born King!”

The Second Reading today is the end of our in-course reading of II Thessalonians.  The reading relates to a very specific situation in the church of Salonica.  There were people who believed that “the day of the Lord” had already happened.  The practical result of this was they no longer needed to work, since work was a result of the fall.  Since they were in the “kingdom” already, they didn’t need to work any more.  This may no longer be our problem, but we have plenty of people to whom Paul’s criticism would apply:  “We hear that some of you are unruly, not keeping busy but acting like busybodies.” 

This hymn is based on today’s Scriptures:

The day is coming, even now,

A day of judgment, time most dire,

When persecution shall ensue

And faith be tried as though by fire.

For those who face these times of stress,

Endurance shall the battle stay;

The Sun of Righteousness shall rise

With healing in His ev'ry ray.

Work on in hope; the Lord will come,

Although He seems to long delay.

In courage wait, and faithful bide

Throughout the coming battle fray.

                        LM

                        No suggested tune