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Hello Friends,
With all the troubling things going on in our world, it can be easy to get caught up in a pessimistic, unhopeful outlook.
Whether it be personal challenges or a fearful concern for the future, it can all become overwhelming. Sometimes, this can lead us to seeing these negative things as predictions of Armageddon – the end.
The readings at Mass for this Sunday, especially the first reading from Malachi (Mal 3:19-20) and Luke’s Gospel (Lk 21:5-19), can seem apocalyptic. But God’s hopeful message for us today is more than that.
Luke’s Gospel offers not a way to predict when the end of the world will happen, but rather, it points out the spiritual resources that you and I need to cope with adversity and hardship – that is trust in God and perseverance.
In times of distress, as Luke says “do not be terrified” for we have a God who journeys with us and sends the Holy Spirit to bring us wisdom and right judgment. That promise from Christ should be enough for you and me.
But oftentimes following Jesus and trying to be faithful can expose you and me to opposition.
Such opposition comes from people who feel threatened by the Gospel message of Christ or from people who buy into the ways of the world over the loving ways of Christ.
The opposition also can often come from inside us.
It is hard to be a follower of Jesus Christ. If you are like me, you want to be liked. You want to be part of the popular pack with everybody. And sometimes you can go along with the crowd – even when it goes against what you believe.
Following Jesus will have its costs. Jesus calls you and me not to be obsessed with the “stones” that will one day collapse and become dust: the “stones” of popularity, of financial success, of power and privilege, of materialism.
Instead, Jesus invites you and me to seek the lasting things of the soul, the loving and good things of God.
Trust in Christ’s promise that God loves you and me and wants us to live life to the fullest in love.
Trust that by trying to live and love like Jesus Christ showed us, you and I can be sources of loving change in our world to make it better.
And you and I become beneficiaries of that change we help to bring about by our trusting in our loving God.
You and I just need to persevere in holding on to that good way of living a faith-filled life – imitating Jesus Christ, not to give up our confidence that the Love of God is real and is always there for you and me.
This trust is not a false optimism, but our faith tells us it is Truth. It is the source of our hope.
As always, if there is anything we can do for you at UB Catholic campus ministry, please let me know. We are here for you.
May God bless you with Peace and All Good.
Fr. Greg