14 November 2021
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel, Jesus details his second coming and the last judgement. It’s a dark and frightful scene. Gone is the light from the sun, the moon and the stars. Everything that is constant and taken for granted is suddenly uncertain. What comes next?
Jesus tells us, “The Son of Man will come with great power and glory to gather his elect.” It is Jesus himself, the one who is “Light from Light,” who comes to do what the mere light from the sun and the stars cannot do: cast His light on all of creation. This he will do not superficially, but with a light that penetrates the very core of our being. Exposed will be injustice and idolatry, the children of ingratitude.
How do we prepare for the day and the hour which no one knows?
By turning to Jesus, the sun of justice, whose light is not as intimidating as it might seem.
Speaking to Colombian bishops during his visit to that country in 2017, Pope Francis described the “kindly light” that radiates from the Risen Christ’s eyes to show us the way. Nothing overwhelming, nothing dazzling, just gentleness and truth. Let us turn to that light and turn to it often, whose mission is to illuminate our humanity and thus make it radiate with his beauty.
“The wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever,” says today’s first reading from the book of Daniel.
Lead kindly light.