Mal. 3:19-20a; Ps. 98:5-9; 2 Thes. 3:7-12; Lk. 21:5-19

“Lo, the day is coming”, this day “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.”  Jesus speaks of a later date from a historical position since his time had not come to pass through his passion, death, and resurrection.  The temple of Jerusalem “adorned with costly stones and votive offerings” was yet to be destroyed.  The early church martyrdom when “they will seize and persecute you” was still to come.  Finally, “awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky”.  What greater awesome sight and sign than Jesus ascension into heaven?  What about now? 

The mystery of faith is seen in the passage “they will put some of you to death…but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.”  Almost a contradiction in the eyes of humanity to be put to death without being destroyed speaks to the revelation of the resurrection.  Just as in last week’s readings directed to the resurrection of the dead, it is a confirmation that God is a God of the living not of the dead.  All the suffering of this world remains for us to battle but “by your perseverance you will secure your lives”.  We persevere in our daily work of holiness.  Bringing our faith into our day produces the holiness of our work and multiplies the fruit of our work so every day is a miracle of life for greater good. 

Human history is filled from the beginning of time with the rise of one people against another be it in the family such as Cain and Abel or among Kingdoms or Nations with World Wars.  Natural disasters can be traced to the “Flood”, Ice-Age, “earthquakes, famines, and plagues”.  Now some speak to the end times with the destruction of the environment in another decade.  They preach against having more children as a moral wrong to give new birth into the world.  Jesus answers these voices, “see that you not be deceived.  Do not follow them!”. 

St. Paul’s warns against anyone who is “conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way”.  He says “if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.”  Are we to be concerned with the environment?  Pope Francis in his encyclical “Laudato Si” on the care to the common home makes the affirmative response.  We have a responsibility to be prudent in our use of nature for our resources.  Do we not cut down a tree to build a shelter, warm our bodies or cook a meal?  The answer is we are created to have dominion over the earth not to worship nature.  Care for the environment is prudent use of these resources.  

We have gone through decades in the fight for life from conception to natural death.  The new fight interconnected to the past is the care of the environment.  The environment is a gift to humanity to be protected let it not become the new religion to replace the worship of nature for God.  In a secular world that seeks to take God out of the common square nature easily steps in as the greatest good and humanity must be sacrificed to the new secular gods of earth, water, air, and fire.  Again, “see that you not be deceived” by these voices.  We follow Jesus, his Word, the teaching of the church and the gifts of the Holy Spirit to discern truth. 

According to the catechism of the church, “earthly progress…is of vital concern to the kingdom of God, insofar as it can contribute to the better ordering of human society” (CCC 1049).  Progress is right judgment in the use of our human resources for the greater good.  If a tree is rotted and falls is it removed to prevent the dry bark from becoming fuel for a wild fire or it allowed to remain part of the natural habitat for nature to dispose.  If it is near a neighborhood there may be one action and if in the middle of a forest another appropriate action.  We are familiar with the expression, “don’t throw out the baby with the bath water”.  Spiritually, don’t dispose of humanity to save the earth. 

The earth belongs to God and we belong to God but the earth is a gift to humanity and we value the gift with love.  Let us persevere in our work in an ordered view of nature and humanity.  We work quietly for the kingdom of God and he produces the fruit of our labor when we allow him to work in us as instruments of his love.