Our Life with Christ at Present Matters More than Tomorrow
Reflective Gospel Blog – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
As the liturgical year draws to a close, the Church invites us into a season of honest reflection—a time to contemplate what truly lasts and what quietly fades away. This Sunday’s Gospel from Luke 21:5-19 offers both a sobering reminder and a tender reassurance from Jesus Himself.
The disciples, captivated by the beauty of the Temple, believed they were standing before something permanent—something unshakable. Its majestic stones and sacred adornments symbolized their faith, their identity, and their sense of stability. And so, when Jesus foretold its destruction, they were stunned.
"See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
'I am he,' and 'The time has come.'
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end."
Then he said to them,
"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.
Luke 25:8-11
But Jesus was revealing a more profound truth:
Nothing in this world, no matter how grand, was meant to last forever.
Human achievements, material wealth, titles, beauty, even relationships—we often cling to these as though they can provide us with ultimate security.
Yet Christ calls us gently, almost urgently, to look beyond.
“See that you are not terrified.”
In a world overwhelmed by fear—fear of loss, fear of change, fear of uncertainty—Jesus offers a different response: faith over fear, presence over panic, surrender over control. He shifts our focus from the question of when the end will come to how we are living our lives right now.
What Matters Most: Living with Christ Today
Our pastor, Fr. Emmanuel, captures the heart of this Gospel in his reflection:
“Our life with Christ at present matters more than tomorrow.”
The question Jesus poses to the disciples—and to each of us today—is simple yet penetrating:
Are you living in My grace in this very moment?
The Book of Malachi comforts us with a powerful promise:
“For those who fear the Lord, the sun of justice will arise with healing rays.”
For God’s faithful ones, the fire of judgment does not destroy—it purifies. It heals. The end is not terror for those who walk with God; it is a dawn of glory.
And this dawn is prepared not in dramatic gestures but in daily faithfulness:
Every act of kindness
Every decision to forgive
Every cross carried with patience
Every moment we choose trust over anxiety
These small, seemingly ordinary choices shape our eternal destiny.
Perseverance: The Path to True Life
Jesus assures us:
“By your perseverance, you will secure your lives.”
Perseverance is not dramatic. It is quiet, steady, humble, and resilient. It is choosing to pray even when we feel dry, to hope even when the world seems dark, and to love even when it costs us something.
In a time when we are bombarded with wars, natural disasters, division, confusion, and fear, today’s Gospel feels strikingly relevant. Yet Christ calls us not to alarm but to witness.
The true disciple does not run from trials but sees in them an opportunity to testify that God is present—especially when everything around us feels uncertain.
Trials do not mean God is distant; they reveal just how near He is.
A Call to Examine Our Priorities
As the Church prepares to enter Advent soon, the Lord invites us to pause and examine:
Are we focused on predicting what the future holds, or are we fully present to God today?
Are we clinging to fear, or anchoring ourselves in fidelity?
Are we preparing anxiously for “the end,” or peacefully deepening our relationship with Christ?
The Gospel reminds us:
The end is not meant to frighten us. It is intended to awaken us.
Awaken us to live with urgency—but not the urgency of panic.
The urgency of love.
To forgive while we still can.
To serve joyfully.
To bless others quietly.
To let go of grudges.
To choose compassion.
To root ourselves in hope.
Because a life lived in Christ today is the surest way to meet Him tomorrow—whenever that tomorrow may come.
A Final Encouragement
When Jesus invites us not to be terrified, He is not minimizing our fears. He is lifting our gaze.
He is teaching us that even when the “temples” of our life tremble—our plans, our expectations, our worldly securities—He remains.
His love remains.
His promises remain.
And His presence is enough to steady us.
May this Sunday renew in our hearts a deep desire to live faithfully, courageously, and lovingly—not someday, but today.
Amen.