Preparation for the Last Day

Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday of 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, November 27th, 2021
Texts: Daniel 7:15-27; Ps. Daniel 3:60-65; Luke21:34-36
Today's first reading tells us once again about the end of time. We are told that it will be hard times for the saints. It is said, "As I looked, this horn made war with the saints, and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgement was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints received the kingdom." The saints will experience hard time before they receive the kingdom. The kingdom will be won for them by God.
Today, in the gospel reading, Jesus Christ makes us to realise why the events of the end time are revealed to us. The events of the end time is revealed to us so that we might prepare for them. Jesus Christ says, “Take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.” We are to prepare for the day by saving energy for it. The cares of this world and life of indulgence could weigh our hearts down and make us lose hope. Once hope is daunted and lost, we will yield to the temptation to turn away from God.
It is God that offers us future, life after here and now. He offers us future full of happiness and peace. This world does not offer us future: it is the world where everything has an end. Apart from God, other power could only offer us happiness and peace here and now. We are not to allow the cares of this world and pleasure make us forget the end time. We are to live this life bearing in mind the end time.
Jesus Christ does not only tell us what to be careful about, what to avoid, He also tells us what to do. He says, "But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man." We are to watch for the arrival of the kingdom of God; we are to be on the lookout for the kingdom. The affair of the kingdom, not affair of the world, should be our concern and priority. What to do to inherit the kingdom should be our thoughts and priority. We should live our lives awaiting the kingdom. Jesus also asks us to pray for strength to withstanding the hard times of the last day. We need to pray for the grace of final perseverance; the strength to persevere till the end.  We need to persevere in doing good. We need God’s help to sustain our patience till the end.

Lord our God, thank You for preparing us for the last day, grant us the grace of final perseverance that we might survive the hard times unhurt and that we may inherit the kingdom prepared for us. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke