THE RESURRECTION MORNING: A TIME OF ANGUISH?

HOMILY FOR THE 33^rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

In a bid to make us comprehend His nature and message, God uses the imagery perceptible to us. He uses what is known to us to direct our minds to what is yet unknown to us. This is why we find the Bible (especially in its apocalyptic literature) filled up with human and natural imageries; for how can we understand God if he speaks in an incomprehensible language? Imagine how someone who does not understand the English language can make sense of my reflections. The Bible which is the manual of God’s manifestation of Himself to humanity cannot make sense to us if it does not speak in our terms. Remember, whatever is received is received according to the mode of the receiver. These images help us to imagine how those mysteries can be. They are indeed helpful, especially in our knowledge of God and his plans for us. But they have some limitation; they are imperfect representations of the reality which they tend to manifest. This means that they are not that which they point to but are meant to make us understand better, as it were, the heavenly reality they refer to.

The Readings of this Sunday are filled with such allegories and imageries which deal with the final moment of existence. And is this not very appropriate at this moment of our liturgical year? The year’s cycle is almost over; remaining just a few days to Advent season. So, the Church’s liturgy reminds us of that eschatological time when our struggles on earth must have been over -the moment of the resurrection of the dead which is our hope as Christians. This is why the readings give us a picture of how it will be, to block us from thinking of the resurrection like one drunk who dozed off and found himself the following morning in a cemetery, and being still tipsy exclaimed: oh, what a resurrection morning!!! Thus, Daniel (First Reading; Dan. 12:1-3) in the last chapter of his book of images gives us the picture of the real resurrection morning. But even at that, these pictures go beyond themselves. They mean a lot.

Unlike our drunk, the resurrection morning comes in a time. Surely, this is not a specific time, day or year. It is not like that type of time we plan for; for instance, birthday, wedding day, christening day, shopping day, concerts, etc. It is a theological time, a time that is not scheduled yet booked, and that is booked yet its tickets do not ever finish, and again that never sees the pages of our diary yet fills our minds with great expectation. Jesus says of this time in the Gospel (Mark 13:24-32): nobody knows it…no one but the Father. This is the time that fashions our Christian lifestyle to which we joyously hope. But surprisingly, Daniel calls it a time of anguish. But how can this time of joy become also a time of anguish? It is a time that comes with perfection. And since it comes with perfection, as one would expect, the imperfect would be sieved. This time is never intended to punish people, but to save, even though in the process of saving, some may fall apart.

Do not forget that Daniel also calls it the time of the deliverance of God’s people. This is why he began the description of this time with the mention of an angel, Michael who stands as the protector of God’s people. It is the time of protection and deliverance. Thus, this is the time whose primary focus is of salvation, not damnation. God saves us; we are the ones who damn ourselves. So then, it is called the time of distress. We get joy or distress based on our decision and preparedness of this time. Jesus also uses natural knowledge in reference to this time: the sun will be darkened, the moon will loose its brightness, the stars will come falling from heaven… Of course, there would be no need of the sun and moon nor the stars since according to Daniel, the two groups of people, the wise and the leaders of righteousness that have risen to everlasting fame and life would become the brightness of the sky and shining like stars for ever and ever. What makes these people righteous and eternally saved is that they are among those who have gained from the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus (cf. Second Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14.18) that washes clean and forgives sins. To be part of those saved on the resurrection morning then is our choice; and the choice is made in word and in deed.

This time is called the time of anguish due to the experiences that would go with it for the believer. These experiences come with persecutions, trials, and the struggle to make Christianity appear like a hoax and a destroyer of humanity. Christians would be hated, ostracised and discriminated against. Remember this section of Mark which forms the Gospel of today belongs to a style of literature called apocalyptic, another example of which is the Book of Revelations and of course Daniel in the OT. This sort of literature was a product of a time of persecution and mental anguish that attempts to restore the faith that God was still in charge of creation and that there was reason for hope. Can it also be relevant for us today? Sure, it is. And so, a relevant message for us today is that there would come a time when God would intervene in history and change everything to good. We need to shout it that God is still in-charge, no matter what.

We know how our imaginations can be very active creating horrible pictures of doom, but again fantastic pictures of escape, most especially in times of distress and anguish. And just like us today, the community Mark wrote to knew what darkness and distress meant. Many were killed for their faith as many lived in fears and practised their faith in secrets. They needed a reassurance of hope that an eschatological time would come after such time of anguish. And for our own time too, the message is very relevant. Thus, a careful reading of these readings reveals a super message of hope for all of us who are presently in a gloomy situation. There will indeed be a time when we shall realize that after all God is still in-charge of this world. Miracles still happen. The resurrection morning is a time of joy and hope. Remain hopeful!!! I pray we move on during this week with this formidable hope that there will be surely the brightness of the summer after the darkness of the winter. Happy new week. God bless you.