Homily — 33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Fr. Timothy W. Castor

In just two weeks, a new liturgical year will begin with the First Sunday of Advent. As the present year comes to a close, our Holy Mother Church directs our attention to the end of the world. Specifically, we are invited to contemplate the second coming of Christ—the Parousia, as it is called in Greek. These are truths of our faith which we profess every Sunday when we recite the creed: "He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end." But, although we profess our faith in these truths, many Catholics are confused about the subject. We are surrounded by novels and movies, conferences and television programs produced by well-meaning Evangelical Protestant teachers which purport to explain the biblical doctrine of the end times. Terms like "rapture", "tribulation", "millennium" are explained with great precision and authority; and many Catholics are convinced by these teachings while others find them attractive and yet wonder if they are consistent with the doctrine of the Church. Still other Catholics simply dismiss the whole thing as nonsense and fantasy. Just what does the Catholic Church teach? What are we to believe concerning the end times?

This is an enormous topic, and one about which there’s still room for legitimate speculation. So, in a brief Sunday homily, we can only hope to scratch the surface. Nevertheless, using today’s first reading and Gospel as a starting point, let’s consider the questions of the tribulation, the so-called rapture, and the second coming of Christ. But first of all, let’s understand what our Evangelical brothers and sisters mean when they use these terms. Briefly stated, the notions currently promoted in popular Christian novels and conferences is that, before Christ returns in glory to establish an earthly kingdom lasting 1000 years (this is what they call the "millennium"), there will be a seven-year period of persecution when a world leader known as the Antichrist will hold sway. This period is known as the great tribulation. But before it begins, it is claimed that a remarkable event will take place: every true believer in Jesus Christ (that is, those who have been born again according to the teachings of Protestant evangelicals) will be physically snatched away from the surface of the earth and gathered into heaven, where they will be at peace and safety in the presence of the Lord. This event is called the "rapture", and it is primarily based upon just two verses of Scripture: Matthew 24:40 and 41: "Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left." Of course, other Scripture passages contribute to this interpretation, but is this what the Church believes? Do we believe that Christians will be rescued from the time of persecution—the Great Tribulation—and will have ringside seats in heaven while we await returning to earth with the Lord?

The answer, quite simply, is "no". The Catholic Church has consistently taught, through her saints, doctors, and theologians, that Scripture passages concerning the just being taken from the earth refer simply to the second coming of Christ, when he will gather his Church to himself in the general resurrection. The ones taken are those who will enter eternal life with the Lord, the ones left behind are the wicked souls who will go into eternal damnation. To be sure, there will be a Great Tribulation, there will be an evil world ruler—the Antichrist—who will deceive the nations. But the Church will not escape this persecution, because it is by means of this trial that the Church is strengthened and purified, with the grace of God ever present to help his faithful people. Don’t believe me? Listen to this quotation directly from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh. (CCC 675)

The Catechism of the Council of Trent, in Article VII on the Creed, has this to say: "The Sacred Scriptures inform us that the general judgment will be preceded by these three principal signs: the preaching of the Gospel throughout the world, a falling away from the faith, and the coming of Antichrist."

It is clear that the Church must endure this time of persecution. This can be seen even in today’s Gospel: "But in those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, etc.... and then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory, and then he will send out the Angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky." The verses which immediately precede today’s Gospel speak of this time of persecution. In fact, two distinct tribulations are in view: primarily, the persecution of the Jewish people culminating in the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in the year 70 A.D. But secondarily, the Great Tribulation of the Church is also prophesied in these passages: "for those times," our Lord says, "will have tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of God’s creation until now, nor ever will be. If the Lord had not shortened those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect whom he chose, he did shorten the days." These words of Jesus echo the prophecy of Daniel which we heard in today’s first reading: "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book." But remember, as the Gospel clearly teaches, the escape will not occur until after the Church passes through the tribulation.

As I’ve already mentioned, we can only scratch the surface of this vital and fascinating topic. There are many other events prophesied (both in scripture and in private revelation) which must precede the second coming of Christ. And I encourage you to read reputable Catholic books on this topic, and not to be taken in by popular novels and sincere, but poorly informed, religious teachers. However, if there is one lesson which you should take with you today, it is the message suggested by the final sentence of today’s Gospel: "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the Angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." In the Gospel of Mark, this is immediately followed by these most important words: "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come."

© 2003, The Rev. Timothy W. Castor