Daniel 12:1–3
Psalm 16:5, 8, 9–10, 11
Hebrews 10:11–14, 18
Mark 13:24–32
Are we living in the “End Times?” This is a question that comes up whenever there is turmoil to be found in the experience of the world around us. Natural disasters, political instability, wars, familial struggles, illness, etc., raise the question. Every generation wonders.
The best answer to this question was given by a seminary professor of mine, Father Gerald O’Collins, S.J. “Yes. We are living in the ‘End Times.’ We have been living in the ‘End Times’ since the Resurrection of Jesus.”
The Biblical perspective has this answer imbedded in the unfolding gift of Revelation. Daniel’s vision of resurrection shows already in the latter days of the Jewish Scriptures that there is an intimation of God’s plan for the whole of human history. The fact that there will be a judgment based on participation in this world is already clear. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.” How this will unfold is not explained, but the hope of glory is expressed: “But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”
Each generation is invited to hope that it will share in the fullness of life that will be manifested at the very end of history. Nonetheless, Jesus Himself says without any ambiguity that none of us knows when it will be. “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
How are we to live in the face of this world’s uncertainties? The Responsorial Psalm provides a response: “You are my inheritance, O Lord!” We must turn toward the Lord with trust and faith that all will be well in the end and that we will share in the life of God. Salvation and the promise of Resurrection have been won for us by our High Priest, as expressed in the Letter to the Hebrews, who “offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.
When times are in flux, we can stand our ground looking to the fulfillment accomplished already in the life, suffering, death and Resurrection of Jesus. At the same time, we look toward the full accomplishment yet to be when history reaches its ultimate goal.
Faith in Jesus Christ, hope through the power of the Spirit who continues to work in us, consecrating us in Christ, and love poured into history through the grace offered to us by Christ’s passion for love of the Father, serve to bring us to salvation, the fulfillment of our purpose. God has made us for Himself. He made me “to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him, in this life, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.”
To live in the “End Times” is to live in time with our hearts set on what is to come, confident in the work accomplished by our High Priest. May we look beyond the chaos of the present moment, in our personal lives, in our country, and in the entire world, to the promise of the fulfillment of eternity.
Parents and all adults who wish to be faithful disciples of Jesus must set an example for their children, not giving in to fear or mistrust but living in faith. We must bring them to Jesus as He reveals Himself to be, the One who loves us best, who poured out His life for us and who continues to offer salvation through our whole lives.
We do not know when we will be called to account, whether at the end of our own earthly lives, or when the world comes to an end if it should happen in our time. We want our children to share in the heavenly inheritance that is promised through Jesus Christ. We must teach them to pray with us: “You are my inheritance, O Lord!