We are at the last Sunday before the feast of Christ the King. In this time as we end the liturgical year, we are always reminded of the end times. However, in my opinion, what is more pressing is our end times. Yes, that is right, we, as Christians, must live with a view of eternity as our times. Just as the Church has different seasons of rejoicing and fasting, it also has a time where we look at the end of the world and, most pressing, our personal end. Fr Basil, a monk at Westminster Abbey, told us seminarians a story of being on a plane and sitting next to a fellow who was doing his thesis on the end times. The fellow asked Father when he thought the end would be. Fr Basil said, “I am not sure when the end of the world will be, no one knows that. I am certain, however, that my world will end and that is what I think of.”
It is true that no one knows when the end will happen. Jesus reports that only God knows. One of my happiest times is when someone reports to know when the world will end. Why? Because I know with certainty that it will not happen that day because God guarantees no one knows. We must also draw two distinctions as well. It seems there is the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and that was accompanied by signs and wonders. Then there is the day of the coming of Jesus and that apparently will come like a thief in the night. It is mentioned two will be sleeping in a bed and one will be taken; two will be at work, one taken. I heard a story where two skiers were standing side by side – one was taken by the avalanche, the other unscathed. The day of the Lord will be like that – people will be buying and selling, going about life and it will be on us. The day will start like any other day and end. We are, therefore, to question ourselves asking, “Are we ready for this day that ends all days?” They said many people came back to Church after 9-11 because they saw how fragile life is. How it could end and have many that are not prepared when it does end? This is why our Lord says be watchful, do not take salvation for granted, because it is the only thing that matters. I remember in the movie ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ when Steve Martin finally gets his dream job of coaching in a big college. But after being there awhile he quits and when asked why he said he needed to put his family first. He was asked, “Don’t you think you will regret not winning a major championship with a major university?” He said yes, “Yes, I will, but I will regret more ruining one of my children’s lives.”
It is, I admit, a dreary subject to think of, our end. However, it is not meant to be. It is meant to bring greater freedom in our lives, to have the grace to see our lives from the perspective of eternal consequence. Is what I am doing today going to matter in eternity? Is there something I should be cutting out of my life right now? What if today was my last day, how would I spend it? What if today was your last day, our last day? What would you be doing? What would you be concerned about? We could, of course, think of it as a fear based message but in truth that is because we are not thinking about eternity. Sergeant Major Daly was known to be a tough and brave Marine. His heroic feats were numerous. One time he singlehandedly held a post against the Communist bend of the wiping out of a Christian community, killing over 200 in one night before he could be reinforced. He had many other legendary heroic actions, so much so that some people thought he wasn’t real. He was awarded two medals of bravery, and most said he should have gotten a third. In one battle, badly outnumbered, he jumped up and said, “Come on men! Don’t you want to live forever?” and he led a charge that won the battle. Don’t you want to live forever?