The two men were walking down an Italian road for days on a mission. They got rained on but they went on undeterred. They had fears of being robbed every step of the way, but they pushed through those fears armed only with the question they have been wanting to ask the well-known Deacon they were on their way to see. They finally arrived at their destination in Assisi. At last, they saw Francis as he was hoeing his garden. They greeted him, introduced themselves, and asked Francis this question: “What would you do if you were suddenly to learn that you would die before sunset this very day?” Francis paused for a moment and responded saying, “I would finish hoeing my garden.” At that, Francis returned to hoeing his garden and the two men left to return to their homes.
If the world as Francis knew it ended that day, he would keep doing exactly what he was doing. This speaks to me of a person who has his life in good order spirtitually. He doesn’t fear death. He is at peace with both death and what he is doing living his life in the moment. Could the same be said of us?
A 2016 survey found that 20% Americans said they are afraid of dying. This same survey found that 25% of Americans are afraid of public speaking. After hearing this, Jerry Seinfeld said, “This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”
Whether it’s the end of the world, the end of the world as we know it, or something else that seems like the end of the world to us, St. Francis of Assisi could teach us all a thing or two about how to move from fear to being at peace.
Our first reading and Gospel reading both talk about the end of the world. Let me tell you about the Good News of the apocalypse. When we know the Good News of the apocalypse, we can be like St. Francis and be at peace with what we’re doing no matter how close the end may be. We can experience this peace like St. Francis by seeing clearly, doing the important stuff, and being present with Jesus.
Let’s start with seeing clearly. Many of us mistakenly believe the apocalypse is all about the end of the world, but that’s not accurate. The original Greek word apokalypsis means an unveiling. It means pulling away of the veil, making known, or revealing. This sense of the word apocalypse as revealing is where the Book of Revelation gets its name. The apocalypse helps us see something true that was hidden before.
When Jesus is telling us disciples in today’s Gospel reading about his second coming, a hidden truth is being revealed or unveiled for our own good. When Jesus is telling his disciples about his second coming, he is speaking to his disciples on Tuesday evening of passion week, just three days before he is to die on the cross. This is the end of his public ministry for all intents and purposes. Jesus and his disciples are on the Mount of Olives looking down with a panoramic view of the temple Jesus just said would be destroyed. Peter, James, John, and Andrew pull Jesus aside and ask him what will be the sign of the destruction of the temple and an end of all these things. Jesus responds by telling his disciples then and us disciples now about the culminating event of the history of the world. The return of Jesus. He says the sun will stop shining, no light will be coming from the moon, the stars will be falling from the sky, everything we see in the sky is shaken, and then Jesus comes in the clouds.
So, what does all this have to do with us here today? It has everything to do with us and our time. This is meant to reveal to us that our faith in Jesus’ second coming isn’t blind: it’s visionary. Our faith enables us to see beyond what we perceive as happening to what could be happening on any given day and at any given hour. This is meant to show us a new and better way to live today.
Doing the Important Stuff – The apocalypse also helps us see the important things in our own lives we know we should do instead of leaving them hidden away in the dark recesses of our minds and souls. The important things we humans tend to want to do when we learn the end is near are the important things we should have been doing all along. Taking care of the wrong we did that we want to make right. Reconciling the strained relationship, we have been wanting to reconcile. Confessing the sin we’ve been carrying around the weight of for too long. Francis had already taken care of the important stuff, so he was at peace with what he was doing at that moment.
Being Present with Jesus – When Jesus tells us that neither we nor he know the day nor the hour when the end of the world will come, the point is that we are meant to live expecting Jesus’ return today. The best way to prepare for Jesus’ return is to live with Jesus now. We don’t have to settle for living today as if Jesus were with us now.
When Fr. Jeremy says the Eucharistic Prayer today, he will say “as we look forward to his second coming, we offer you in Thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.” Notice what Fr. Jeremy does not say. He does not say “as we live in fear of his second coming.” Instead he says, as we look forward to his second coming.” After these words are said, we will have the opportunity to actually live in the presence of Jesus today. Remember that Jesus is our Prince of Peace. So, when we have Jesus present with us, as we go through our day doing something that brings us peace whether it be hoeing the garden or something else, we can rest assured, it is probably exactly what Jesus wants us to be doing in that moment. When we do what Jesus wants us to be doing in the moment, this is how we give our lives away to Jesus every day. If we are giving our lives away to Jesus every day, whenever the day comes for Jesus take our lives, it is just another day of us giving away our lives to Jesus.
So, may we see clearly, do the important things, and live in the presence of Jesus. Then, whenever the day or the hour may come, we can keep hoeing our gardens at peace.
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle B – November 14, 2021
Mass Readings:
Reading 1: Dn 12:1-3
Psalm: Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11
Reading 2: Heb 10:11-14, 18
Gospel: Mk 13:24-32