Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.
“Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” - Luke 21:5-19
As we approach the end of the liturgical year, the Church in her wisdom calls us to reflect on the end times, both for us as individuals and the world as a whole. This week's Gospel gives a picture of what those end times will look like, and it's not a very pretty picture. Jesus tells us that there will be natural disasters, wars and that even friends and families will turn on each other. Overall, it does not sound like a great time to be alive, and you really couldn't be faulted for praying that you are not around when all these things come to pass.
This may seem a bit harsh, but anyone who has endured suffering can testify that this is true. It is only when we have been tested and come out on the other side that we are able to say with certainty what we believe and what is real. Whatever those trials may be, and they are different for everyone, we are called to face them with strength and with the a full reliance on God's love for us and His willingness to guide us along the correct path.
Similarly, while it may seem that Jesus is speaking about the end of the world, He can just as easily be speaking about the times in which we live. Every day we are able to read about various disasters occurring throughout the world - floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, famine, etc. Unfortunately, war is a also still a prevalent feature of modern life. While Jesus is indeed answering a question about the end of the world, He is also talking about each of our individual lives. Most of humanity will not be around during the end of the world, having already passed to the other side of eternity.
Still, we are all called to live as if we are living during the world. We are called to live out the commandment to love God and our neighbors. We are called to spread the good news that Jesus is Lord and that, by following Him, we can achieve everlasting life. We are called to be Christ's hands and feet in our modern world. By doing this, we ensure that, no matter what others may say about us, no matter what our culture tells us important, we are focused on what is truly important - living a life worthy of being called a follower of Christ. So live each day as if the world were going to end tomorrow. Whatever you do, ask yourself this question: "If Jesus came back today, would He be proud of what I am doing?" How you answer this question can tell you a lot about your faith and where your life is going.