A possible end to earth
(Mal 3.19-20a; 2 Thess 3.7-12; Lk 21.5-19)
When we gaze upon the state of our world, we see it in a parlous state.
Global warming, rising sea levels, pandemics and dangerous games of brinkmanship between the great powers of China, Russia, and the United States – all underline the fragility of continuing human domination of Earth.
Do such events point to a possible end of the earth at which Luke seems to hint? ( 21.10-11). Not necessarily so (as Luke himself warns), for there have been many times when false prophets have proclaimed annihilation such as at the end of the first millennium and famously with the year 2000 predicted computer meltdown.
Times have changed nonetheless. We may not have the power to destroy our planet but we are more than capable of plunging civilization as we know it back into a state of primitive survival amidst the deaths of millions of humans.
At such a time we who have faith need to fall back on the patience and mercy of God as shown us in the life of Jesus Christ.
From the first primitive fireball billions of years passed before life emerged on our globe; and it just over 100,000 years ago that the first creatures we perceive as human began to walk the earth.
God’s love for all he has created is a story that has taken vast aeons to unfold. And Christ himself assured us that it would not flicker out even in the face of the worst human catastrophes, for God has promised that those who bear his name will never be expunged from the face of the earth… not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives. (Lk 21.19)
Source: 33rd Sunday year C1
This Sunday