Christ Our Light Catholic Church - Loudonville, NY

From Deacon Dick

The End Times

            In the passages prior to today’s reading from Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is leaving the Temple and his disciples are focused on their physical surroundings rather than on Jesus’ impending demise:  “Look at the size of those stones! … Look at the size of those buildings!”  Like us, they were easily distracted from recognizing Jesus as the “Son of Man coming to gather his elect from the four winds.” He says to them:  “You see these great buildings? Not a single stone will be left on another … everything will be pulled down.”  Then he warns them to be on guard for only the Father knows when these things will take place. 

            Our world is a disorderly and dangerous place.  It seems that daily we hear of and experience things being “pulled down.”  And so we might ask, as did Billy Graham some years ago:  “Who can restore order?  Who alone can save the world?  The answer is Jesus Christ!”  The Son of Man will bring an end to the injustice, oppression, wars, and terrorism that dominate God’s good earth.  Our Christian faith assures us that all will be reconciled through and in the Cosmic Christ who will defeat even death itself.  On that day, we shall see the face of God and experience:

Stepping on shore, and finding it Heaven!

Of taking hold of a hand, and finding it God’s hand.

Of breathing new air, and finding it celestial air.

Of feeling invigorated, and finding it immortality.

Of passing from storm to tempest to an unbroken calm.

Of waking up, and finding it Home.

Author Unknown