THIRTY-THIRD
SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(Daniel 12:
1-3; Hebrews 18: 11-14.18; Mark 13: 24-32)
It is not unheard of
for people to ask prayers for their pet animals. They become so worried that
their dog is not eating or that their cat is not walking that they seek help
from above. However, the request creates a dilemma for the priest. An animal
does not have an eternal soul like humans. It seems that it is destined for
annihilation with death. But a priest can always bless an animal as an aid to
human beings. Also, he can pray that the person is relieved of his or her
distress over the sick pet.
Of the inhabitants of
the earth only men and women have imperishable souls. The Book of Genesis
teaches that the first humans had access to the tree of life. However, for
their attempt to seize the state of God, they were sentenced to death. Only
because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, highlighted in today’s second
reading, did they receive the forgiveness of that sin. Christ’s sacrifice also won
the grace so that they could become perfect like him.
The gospel reports Jesus’
description of his return at the end of time. He will come to gather his
faithful into the kingdom of his Father. He says that the blessed will include
all kinds of people: Asians from the east, Africans from the south, indigenous
from the west, and Russians from the north. These people have a common
characteristic - justice. According to the first reading from the prophet
Daniel the teachers of justice will stand out like stars in the night sky.
We want to know when
the return of Jesus will take place. But Jesus says this knowledge is
unavailable. Therefore, we must always be prepared for it to happen.
Preparation involves more than maintenance. We have to do more than show up for
mass on Sunday and not steal from our neighbor. Preparation for his coming consists
of repenting of our faults so that we continually grow in perfection. We have
to be like the great artists always improving their skills with continual practice.
The temptation to
treat animals as human persons is not new. There are mummies in the pyramids of
ancient Egypt of cats, dogs, crocodiles, and other animals. We know that
treating animals as if they were humans would be an outrage. However, we do not
believe that mistreating animals is allowed, be they house pets, farm
livestock, or even wild animals of the jungle. As God's creatures, we give them
care, although it is not wrong to use them for food, for scientific experiments,
or even, with discretion, for sport. In the end we will be judged also by our
justice towards them.
The short days that
people are now experiencing in the north should remind us of the end time. The
night and the cold should warn us that death is a reality for everyone. The
victory of Jesus Christ over sin and death is also real. For this reason he is
described in the gospels as the rising sun. Because he will return to be our
judge, we strive to be perfect like him.
