Today’s readings tend to focus on the end of all things, and we are given some descriptions of what that will be like. With it comes both bad news and good news. The bad news is that this is what all creation is moving towards (passing away), and there’s nothing really any of us can do about it to alter that course. In fact, it is in large part our own fault (the fault of sin) that our world is like this and will continue going through the consequences.
The good news is that, despite being the end in one sense, all will be renewed. We also can share in that renewal in uninterrupted peace and glory – if we accept the invitation that God is giving us. Today’s Responsorial Psalm and the Letter to the Hebrews are calling us to this. To turn our attention to God (through Christ) and his ways, and to participate with him, so that all our sins and lawless deeds will be blotted out and forgiven. The wall that we ourselves erected that separated us from God and his love, mercy, healing. The obstacles to the sincere love that we ought to have for one another and for ourselves will be broken down forever. “In your presence there is fullness of joy […] forevermore.”
To take hold of the promises given us by this good news does require our alertness, and our action, in cooperation with God’s will for us. Hence, the summons to be attentive to the signs God gives us. We are also admonished elsewhere to always keep vigilant against the enemies of our souls who are described as “a prowling lion seeking whom to devour”. These do wage war against us and will seek every means necessary to deceive us from remaining steadfast to the Lord.
Thanks be to God that we have this assurance from him: “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”. Let us hold fast to him despite the difficulties and say with St. Peter what he says elsewhere: “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
– Aaron Neiva