A Time of Unsurpassed Distress: Reflections on the Readings for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

The readings for this week as we begin to close out Ordinary Time, invoke many images: Memento Mori (Remember death), the End Times (including watchfulness), the four last things (death, judgment, heaven, hell), the resurrection of the dead, and forgiveness of sin, to name a few. Next week we will celebrate the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, which closes out the Liturgical Year. The New Liturgical Year begins with the First Sunday of Advent (Cycle C this coming year).

The reading from Daniel is describing a vision and starts out with these words from the Lord, “In those days.” Very unspecific. The actual time is not mentioned for, as Jesus will tell us in the gospel, only the Father knows when. However, it will be “a time of unsurpassed distress.” Prince Michael, the guardian angel of Israel, will arise to defend us. The note on this passage in the RSV-CE translation of the Bible states that a prince is “an angel who has spiritual oversight and influence over an earthly nation.” The letter of Jude (verse 9) refers to the Archangel Michael as does Revelation (12:7-9). Michael is a defender against evil, against Satan; the times in Daniel’s vision and that described in Revelation depict the battle against evil.

Daniel sees both resurrection (those sleeping in the earth awakening) and condemnation to hell (“others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace”). There is also an admonition that could be interpreted as looking out for our fellow man. “... those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever." As noted in the Catechism, we have a duty to lead others to Christ. “Since, like all the faithful, lay Christians are entrusted by God with the apostolate by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation, they have the right and duty, individually or grouped in associations, to work so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all men throughout the earth.” (CCC 900, emphasis added)

In this vein the responsorial picks up with, “You are my inheritance, O Lord!” If we set the Lord before us always we will reap the joys of everlasting life in His presence as opposed to being abandoned to the netherworld. This requires faithfulness on our part. In this way we will find the path to life. However, it will not always be easy. Keep in mind Jesus’s words in this regard, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14) Another reminder that not everyone will make it to heaven; the netherworld awaits for those without faith in the Lord.

This week we close out this year’s readings from the letter to the Hebrews. In this reading we hear again about Jesus who sits at the right hand of God waiting for the end times (alluded to in the reading from Daniel) when “his enemies are made his footstool.” His sacrifice for our sins has consecrated us so that our sins may be forgiven. Consequently, there is no longer need for daily sin offerings, but we join in Christ’s sacrifice by our participation in the re-presentation of Calvary in the mass.

Jesus also speaks of the end times, a time of tribulation when the darkness will pervade the world. Jesus, the Son of Man, will be coming in the clouds, also described in Matthew 24:29-31. The angels will be sent to collect the elect. Jesus’s earlier descriptions of the kingdom also noted this work of the angels. For example, in Matthew chapter 13, Jesus describes the kingdom like a net that catches fish of every kind and after it is hauled ashore, the fishermen sort the good from the bad. “Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” (Matthew 13:47-50, cf. Matt. 13:36-42)

Jesus also states in these descriptions, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father,” similar to Daniel’s words in the first reading, “But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament ...”

Jesus then admonishes them to be watchful of the signs so that they (we) will know what to expect. He does not tell us when this will happen, for “of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Jesus warned of the time of tribulation and the hazards to the faithful. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away, ... And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. ... But he who endures to the end will be saved.” Mt 24:9-13

Recall these words from the gospel of Matthew, “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” (Matthew 24:42-44)