My friends, the official church calendar names next Sunday as the last Sunday in the Church Year, but in my mind, I always think of this Sunday, the 33^rd in Ordinary Time as the end, looking toward next Sunday, the Feast of Christ the King as one to celebrate, with gratitude, all that Jesus, the Christ has been for us—a true brother and friend.  And with that in mind, that his and God’s purpose (3 in 1) was never that he come as, “a king” to “lord it over us,” but really as a brother and friend, to show us the way to live and to love; I, as many of you know, have taken the liberty of re-naming next week’s feast, Jesus, Our Brother, and Friend. 

   But I am getting ahead of myself—we need today to concentrate then on all that this 33^rd and last Sunday in Ordinary Time really means.  Primarily, it is a time of “transition,” a fact that seems clear in today’s readings.

   “End times” seem to be today’s focus and in order to understand the totality of meaning here, we need to remember that the Israelite people are dealing with two distinct meanings when thinking about “end times.”  These two meanings are about, “end times,” yes, but also about, “the end of time.”

    The “end times” were thought to be a time of transition, when suffering and hard times would be no more, when the Chosen One, whom Christians believe is Jesus, the Christ, will come again in glory to make all things right and the kin-dom will be celebrated before the face of God, in that wonderful reality.  It is a tremendously hope-filled image that is attractive to many people. The cinema has played into this image of a time of justice when good, will reign—in the epic series, The Lord of the Rings, and in the Star Wars movies.  

   The “end of time” is another time, and when that time will come, none of us knows, or in fact understands just how it will be—it would appear that Jesus, in his humanity didn’t even know. We will just have to trust that all will unfold according to God’s loving plan. The reading from Hebrews today says as much—that in fact, in Jesus, all will be well.  So why, we might ask, are we given frightening images—of the sun and moon going dark—of stars falling from the sky?  Exegetes tell us that some of this talk in Mark’s gospel today may have been a “cover for the people” from their enemies as a result of the subversive tone of some of Jesus’ teachings

   The Israelites were told overtime, that what they were suffering would come to an end—the Chosen One would eventually alleviate their sufferings—this was their hope.   This knowledge that their God did hear their cries and would come to save them, gave them the will to go on.  In faith, we must believe the same, especially in these times of so much upheaval in Church and State—talk about “frightening images!”

   The Church in its hierarchy just can’t seem to do the right thing—coming together for the good of all—truly speaking the message of our brother Jesus, where women, the disadvantaged, and the abused—in so many ways, are concerned. Pope Francis is trying, but alas…

   Our nation is struggling at present, with many “navel-gazing,” as it were, on themselves, unable to see that individual actions do affect, and in the case of COVID, “infect” others. When our personal rights and privileges stand in the way of those same rights and privileges for others, something is wrong that could benefit from looking at the example of our brother Jesus in his life with us. 

   Our nation as well as the nations of the world, meeting in Glasgow, Scotland these past two weeks to discuss climate change, would do well to listen to the Spirit that is being proclaimed through the young people who are attending this conference, who will inherit the continued devastation of our beautiful earth if we don’t come together and make the needed changes. 

   Their frustration, felt by many, over the lack of collective, meaningful ways to care for the earth was probably said no better than by 18-year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden who in response to the promises made by those present, pledging changes in the future— “bla, bla, bla!”  Greta and other young activists don’t believe that those of us who can actually bring about change, mean it! 

   So, my friends, the placing of “end times” and “the end of time” readings on the 33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time is most appropriate as we wind down one Church Year and move into a new one with the coming of the holy, preparatory season of Advent in just two weeks. We are called to reflect on what has been, what we have helped to change that has needed change and how we propose to move forward.

   The changes that are needed are many—none of us can do all, but together, we could do so much!  From the valiant, on-going work of the Thursday morning writers—to our own personal contacts with legislators, demanding that they stop wasting time and get the peoples’ work done. Pray for those in these positions where change can happen that they do what is right in Church and State and pray for those who have no intention of changing, as they are just in it for themselves.  And pray for all the “closed minds” in the general public who are responding rather selfishly.  And most of all,  never lose hope my friends—never lose hope. 

   Our forebears in the faith never lost faith or ceased to hope, at least, collectively—nor should we.  Determine what needs to be done in any situation and then do the “piece” that is yours to do. 

   The first reading from Daniel lets us know that “The wise will shine like bright heavens and the leaders of justice like the stars forevermore.”  A symbol, good and true for us as Christians, followers of our brother Jesus has always been, “light.”  We believe that he is “our light” in the darkness.  Knowing as he told us, when gracing this earth, “that I will be with you always— “lighting the way,” as it were, we really have no reason to doubt, no reason to fear, but simply live in the present, attempting each day to do our best. Amen? Amen!

   My friends, so often the lessons coming from the weekly Scriptures are “simple” ones—lessons that challenge us about becoming, who each of us is intended to be, at our best.  When life becomes discouraging and even frustrating, it is often because humans, rather than choosing to be their best, choose the lowest common denominator that allows them to go through life, rather unscathed. 

   But, let’s leave that for a bit and look for the lessons in today’s Scriptures.  From the Old Testament prophet, Elijah and the New Testament prophet, our brother, Jesus, we are treated to the stories of two women who ultimately, choose to, “give their best” and as a result, the best comes back to them—at least for the woman in the Old Testament reading from Kings.  The woman the Jesus lifts up for us to consider; we don’t know what ultimately happens to her, but we can assume that her goodness, her largeness of heart is repaid with good, going forward. 

   So, let’s look closer at these two women and try to understand the totality of the gift that each gives.  In each case we see that these women are living, “on the edge.”  The woman from the Old Testament reading is a widow, caring for her son, and both are literally, starving to death.  When Elijah comes into this pair’s lives and asks for, “water and bread,” the woman is about to prepare their final meal!  We can understand why she hesitates a bit before giving Elijah that final meal, a stranger, rather than her son. 

   Ultimately, this woman and mother, gives out of her need and in order for her to do this, we have to assume that she also has a great deal of faith. She believes what Elijah tells her, sight unseen, that, “the jar of flour and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day YHWH makes it rain on the land.”   

Additionally, we must remember the plight of all widowed, or otherwise single women in Elijah’s as well as in Jesus’ time.  Women had basically no power, no resource if there wasn’t a man in their lives—and the children of such women were in the same straights.  It says something then that, “a man” would ask so much of this poor woman.  It also should tell us something when we realize how graciously Elijah rewarded, through God’s help, his most generous benefactor.  And each of us must take this to heart as the Scriptures of old are for us today.  Each of us is called to care in our plenty and in our need and to walk in faith, trusting that our God is watching over us. 

   “Caring” when in need is truly the personal story of each woman lifted up for us today.  Each story is so compelling because on face value, we may not expect the reaction—the gift that each gives, “out of her need.”

   Many of us are blessed with being able to give “out of our plenty,” and we should, when we have the opportunity.  The idea of giving, “out of our need” is compelling because it would seem, that each of us, out of plenty, or out of need is being called, to give—to share, what we can.

   Not to put too fine a point on it, but Jesus really wants us, “to get” the example of the poor woman in the Gospel story today from Mark, who gives, “out of her need,” as opposed to the “religious scholars” [who serve themselves on the gifts of others].  This should say something to us about the real, spiritual need to strive for balance with the goods of this world.  That anyone, anywhere, is hungry, homeless, lonely, or afraid should weigh on our hearts so that we do our part to alleviate those needs. This is truly what it means to, “be our best.”

   Because none of us can do it all, it is good to remember, in our day, that there are many ways to give:  financially yes—but there is also the gift of our time, visiting a shut-in, bringing the communion of the altar, but also, in the larger sense, the “communion” that each of us, is—our smiles, our companionship with and for others. 

   This past February marked 10 years that our parish has participated in Home-Delivered Meals.  And I would guess that we, in our three cooking groups, have been bringing monthly meals to the Catholic Worker (Bethany) House for that many years as well. 

   I have mentioned in our bulletin, but will again here, that we have need of two more volunteers to serve on our All Are One board beginning in January of 2022 as two people would like to step down after serving several terms.  Please be in touch with me, either “out of your plenty” or “out of your need” where time is concerned, to serve in this way.  It is a job that I can honestly say is more fun than work.  Elijah’s words to the poor mother in today’s Scriptures might be fitting in this regard, “Don’t be afraid,” [God will cover your needs].

   I have talked quite a bit today about generosity in giving—not as much about the “faith” it takes at times, like in the two women in today’s readings, trusting that the little we may be able to give, or do, will matter, and not put us in jeopardy if we do in fact move in faith, to try and help.  We must look to this aspect of “faith” though, as both of today’s prophets, Elijah and Jesus seem to be calling us to such trust. It moves us beyond our own needs to see the needs of others, which often times are much greater than our own. Or as Joan Chittister says on her calendar page for November, “When we begin to see as God sees, we see far beyond ourselves.”

   I believe our brother Jesus wants us to understand that whatever we can give, does matter, and when it comes, out of our need, it can truly “break open our hearts” so that we can see what is most important. 

   The writer to the Hebrews in today’s second reading, as in past Sundays, speaks to the surface issue of Jesus’s sacrifice of his life, “for our sins.”  I would like to suggest that our brother’s sacrifice of his life was all about showing us the way to live and to love—and those with power didn’t always like how Jesus called us, “to be our best,” and perhaps that is why he had to die. 

  Episcopalian bishop, John Shelby Spong said it rather profoundly and I will conclude with his words: 

      When we strive to be our best selves, our humanity, which is really “divine” in its best sense, comes to the fore, and when that happens, we have achieved, heaven, by growing to that place that  our loving God intended for us all along—giving, caring, loving, and living for ourselves and others. Amen? Amen!