Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis
with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk
Thirty-third
Sunday of the Year, C – Nov 17, 2019
Readings: Malachi 4:1-2a;
Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:5-6,7-9ab,9cd(R.cf9cd);
2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Gospel
Luke 21:5-19.
Theme: End-time Reality and
the Danger of False Prophets!
“In a land of religiosity without corresponding
righteousness, we are encouraged to beware of the following: Churches without
Christ, clerics without courtesy, collections without compassion, crusades
without contemplation, followers without fidelity, flamboyance without
fellow-feeling and fluency without fellowship.” Fr. Justine Dyikuk
Introduction
Friends in Christ, as we prepare to round up the
Church’s Liturgical Calendar, our readings speak to us about judgement, false
prophesy and end-time realities. You would recall that in 2016, a strange cross,
five feet long appeared to a 15 year-old girl by name Hajara Hussaini near a
Mosque in Assakio, Nassarawa state while she was on her way to an errand by her
parents. In the same year, a shining light appeared on the crucifix in St.
Augustine Catholic Church, Nenger, in Makurdi, Benue State. Both Christians and
Muslims felt that these were signs of the end time. Really? Well, despite these
signs, Jesus insists that that no one knows when the Son of Man would return
(Matthew 24:36). With this background in
mind, we would do a summary of the readings in preparation for some take-home
lessons.
Background and Summary of
the Readings
The first reading (Malachi 4:1-2a) reveals what would
happen at the end of time. It tells how God would punish the arrogant and
evildoers by burning them up but for those who fear him, he would let the sun
of righteousness shine upon them as he grants them healing.
In the second reading (Thessalonians 3:7-12), St. Paul
challenged the faithful to be industrious and ready for every kind of good work
following their good example. The reading presents St. Paul’s zero tolerance to
laziness and how he urged all to embrace hard-work so as to earn the food they
eat. It surmises the theology of work by
suggesting that through work, we can praise God.
The gospel reading (Luke 21:5-19) recounts the
response of Jesus to some people who were talking about the temple, remarking
it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings. It reveals how Jesus
told them that everything would be destroyed. He further replied the issue of
when that destruction will take place with the warning about those who would
use his name to insinuate that the end is near.
