Posted by The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Florante Camacho SVD – Tagbilaran City
Friday 34th Week in Ordinary Time
The end of the Catholic Church’s liturgical year usually occurs in November. Many readings at Eucharistic celebrations speak of the last things in life: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell.
Today’s readings are exactly about these. We must prepare daily. We do not know the exact hour of our death. We are also unaware of the second coming of the Lord at the Parousia!
When one dies, his/her particular judgment immediately follows: To Purgatory then Heaven or to Hell. At the second coming of Jesus Christ as King, the whole of creation will assemble for the General Judgement.
The Book of Revelation in today’s reading speaks of the great separation. Jesus will put the good persons on His right side and the bad ones on the left. Those on His right will be raised to life and glory in heaven. Those on His left will go to Satan’s kingdom, hell!
The Gospel reading uses a parable of the fig tree to teach us about the arrival of God’s kingdom. We must be wise enough to read the signs of its arrival. Everything will come to an end. No one should cling to the temporal things of this world. Instead, we must remain faithful in doing His will daily. If we love one another as He loves us, heaven is already here but not yet completely! Only in His Kingdom will our joy be complete!
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