The end is nigh?

 Over many years we have the prophets of doom who predict that the end of time is upon us. This can look at the signs of the times as harbingers of destruction which proclaim flood, war, plague, and pestilence. There is something about the current climate which seeks to predict the future rather than live in the present. The result can result in fear, anxiety, anger, and paralysis where we just have to wait for the end to arrive. Yet this can result in a certain sense of fatalism which leaves us powerless to live in the present.

The Gospel for this weekend does not seek to notice these markers that appear outside our control. Rather they seek perfection which comes from within and makes us available to this present age to do what we can rather than what we cannot. What can sustain us in uncertain times with hope and courage? This comes from being people who pray, study, and act in our current environment. We are called to be people who are present with wisdom and grace.

This calls for a heartfelt response that engages us with thoughtful reflection. What will sustain us as people who care for the planet and for each other? The pandemic has taught us that a common mind and a common heart can confront problems that seem to overwhelm us. They help us to notice that what binds us together is more than what will drive us apart. In an age that looks for conspiracy, scandal, and violence we can become bearers of the good news who seek Christ in the everyday. Our lives make a difference that enables others to bear witness to how God calls us to be present to this time with faith, hope, and charity.