Pastor’s Corner for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C by Rev. Fr. Nobert Munekani SJ

The liturgical readings this Sunday call us to reflect on the moment when the world will come to pass away. A week from now we shall come to the end of this the liturgical calendar year C. So, the readings of this Sunday point to “the end of time” and our victory in Christ. As we all know, endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but final victory comes to the one who endures. Therefore, our calling is to endure until we triumph over all the forces of this world.

The question is how prepared we for that moment are.

The first reading and the gospel reminds us of the perdition of the arrogance and evil doers are heading to and the sweet restoration to freedom and love of the virtuous. In the second reading Paul cautions us against ideal waiting. So how do we prepare? Let us just take the most important aspect of life: LOVE.

We ask ourselves three questions about love,
1. Are our thoughts loving enough? How quick is our judgment of other people, do we tend to set ourselves above others. Do we mentally assess people in an unfair and unkind manner?
2. How loving is our words? Do we use our speech to talk or gossip about other people’s failure instead of encouraging them to change? Do we curse with our speech instead of blessing? Do we kill with our tongue or are our speech an expression of love?

3. How loving is our actions? Another area though more profound is our actions, how loving are they? Helping others is the standard Christ gave us in Matthew 25 for entering the kingdom of God. An ancient homily says that “fasting is better than prayer, but almsgivings surpass them all because charity covers a multitude of sins”.

We don’t need to be scared. We need to be prepared. As we reflect on the word of God this Sunday, let us pray for the gift of perseverance and to be spiritually ready when our end comes.

For the Sick: Let remember to pray for the sick in our Parish especially Elizabeth Mooi and Abner Zama Qgolodashe.

                                                                           Fr. Nobert Munekani SJ