Reflection on the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading the first reading and the Gospel I was reminded of our human tendency, over thousands of years, to attribute to God or gods (depending on the particular beliefs) everything that we could not otherwise explain. God blessed us with rain, crops, plentiful harvests or God punished us with drought, ruined crops and scarcity. There was no other explanation for why the rain came sometimes and not other years. The sun could blaze like an oven and do serious harm to most living things, especially in desert areas. Or the sun could provide warmth and healing in the right amount. Much like the god or gods people believed in. There could be a kind, life giving God or one who made life difficult.

There was no understanding of eclipses or volcanoes or many other natural phenomena, so they were attributed to God. What happened depended on whether people pleased or displeased God. And if you displeased God there were consequences and punishment.

In the Book of Malachai, the last book of the Old Testament, the message is one of  correction and hope from God to an apathetic group of believers who have returned from exile, their life has improved and morality has declined. There is corruption, injustice and infidelity, but God continues to invite people back into right relationship. It is a lovely reminder that God never gives up on anyone or any situation, and that is our great source of hope. 

In the Gospel, Jesus forewarns people about how difficult the path of faith can be. There will be false prophets, there will be natural disasters, wars and insurrections, but we are reminded again not to be afraid. We are repeatedly reminded not to live in fear, but in faith and hope. 

When I read the description of things to come in the Gospel of Luke, written in the first century, it certainly sounded like things that have come to pass in our time some 2,000 years later. But we know so much more now about what causes earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wars and insurrections than the people of Jesus’ time. We understand the science of nature and the nature of people – both the good and evil tendencies of humanity. 

We do not blame God or believe God is looking for some ritualistic sacrifice. But the path of faith can still be difficult. Sorting out our truth from the truth is sometimes more difficult than recognizing that which is blatantly false or trying to see and understand what is behind the false statement that someone is making. Is it fear? Ego? Misinformation? An unreliable source? I am not much of a conspiracy theory follower, but I am not naïve enough to think there are not groups of people conspiring toward a particular end, especially when it comes to money and power. People planting seeds of fear and doubt on our path seek to weaken our faith and our resolve. And everything online these days can be true or completely fabricated and unreal, which does not always serve us well.

But Jesus reminds us to persevere, and by our perseverance we will secure our lives and remain faithful. And the second reading offers another valuable reminder – to not be minding the business of others or be a busybody. The Letter to the Thessalonians reminds us to follow the example of the early disciples by being willing to work hard and work quietly. We have examples in our midst of people who do just that, who work hard and work quietly on behalf of others – sisters, co-members, friends, employees, family members and others.

All of this reminds me of the ending of one of John O’Donohue’s prayers or poems. I love this inviting prayer to be fully alive and aware, to be willing to risk and dream and to waste no time on fear. He says:

“May my mind come alive today

To the invisible geography

That invites me to new frontiers,

To break the dead shell of yesterdays,

To risk being disturbed and changed.

May I have the courage today

To live the life that I would love,

To postpone my dream no longer

But do at last what I came here for

And waste my heart on fear no more.”