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November 14, 2009 "Doom or Bloom" |
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 13, 24-32 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my Words will not pass away”
Mark your calendar: 21st of December 2012 would be the day when the sun would change its polarity and produce great apocalyptic disasters like earthquake, tsunami, meteor fallouts and hurricanes and change the world into a new era. This is the fearless prediction of the Ancient Mayans as narrated by the Film “2012.” Some are somehow afraid because even the Scripture seems to predict such apocalyptic scenarios of global cataclysm, like our 1st reading and gospel for today (Daniel 12:1-3; Mark 13:24-32). That’s dooms day!
Apocalyptic literatures like the Book of Daniel and the gospel for today were written not to instill fear to the readers. They were written to give hope to those who were suffering because of their love for God, truth, justice and peace because there were already signs of the coming victory of good over evil. Unfortunately, some believers easily gave up and left their faith. The persecutions were too much and too long for them to survive.
Such situations of being persecuted, misunderstood, and marginalized for following God’s will or promoting truth, justice and peace are also true to us. In our gospel, Jesus invites us to believe, commit and persevere in our trials because the Enemy is about to fall. Signs would tell us of the God’s imminent victory against all evil (Mark 13:26-28).
Our readings are laden with literary images of God’s victory. It should give us new lease of strength, inner peace and deeper conviction not to give up in our struggles. The words of Jesus are not “words of doom” but “words of encouragement” to bloom in the midst of trials and life’s uncertainties. We should not be deceived by the temptations of the world, useless anxieties and fear of the unknown ahead of us (Mark 13:5-8); but be firm in trusting God, for heaven and earth will pass away, but His Word will stay (Mark 13:31). The darkening of sun and moon and falling of stars are images of the fall of evil and its works (Mark 13:24-26). God is in control of everything, even our greatest enemy.
To know the exact date of the end of the world should be our least concern. Nobody knows when the day is. Jesus admitted that only His Father knows. What matters most now is to answer these two life-defining questions: “What will I do with my life? What will I do with my here and now?” What God wants us to do is to “bloom where we are planted.”
The “2012” website (http://www.december212012.org/) is exhorting us to seriously prepare for “The Day.” But not just to survive the day, but to be more “proactive” in assuming “pre-emptive measures” for long term or permanent survival. I am not a Mayan believer. I am confident that nothing catastrophic in nature will happen on December 12, 2012. What we need to face is our own “judgment day” when death comes to us. Nobody knows when but God alone. This is our personal “2012” reality.
The 2012 catastrophes and other “end of the world” scenarios may distract us from focusing our energy to much more important life-realities. Let’s cast our eyes on the things that will give us “permanent survival” when our personal day of reckoning comes. Learn something from the Film 2012 - be more pro-active while waiting: Believe in God. Don’t give up. Fight for what is true and noble. Create happy memories. Vote wisely. Treat your housemaid to a movie. Plant a tree. Spend quality time with your family. Visit a friend. Listen to your son. Respect your parents. Pray for those who persecute you. Volunteer. Gloom not. Bloom where you are planted. Do small acts of kindness everyday. And when our time comes to meet God, it will be our greatest moment of bloom and not gloom.
“When I look at the world, I get distressed. When I look at myself, I get depressed. But when I look at Jesus, I find rest. “ – Corrie Ten Boom
- Fr.Wilfredo M. Samson,SJ / November 15, 2009 / Ateneo de Zamboanga University
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