CCC is The Catechism of the Catholic Church.
To begin a new liturgical year, we change gospels to Matthew. This Sunday’s passage is on the end-times. At the beginning, we reflect on the end. Knowing where we are going is a good place to begin.
When Matthew mixes his end-time thoughts with Israel’s worst times, he challenges disciples in all times. In 66, zealots revolted against Rome. Rome reacted with might. By 70, Rome destroyed Jerusalem, burning down the Temple. Perhaps a million people died. When Matthew weaves the tragedy into the end-times, the end becomes dark.
In Matthew, the end-times began years earlier. He signals the beginning twice. When Jesus died, the sanctuary veil tore in two, the earth quaked, rocks split, tombs opened, and the saints rose from the dead (27:51/2). At the Lord’s resurrection, the earth quaked, and an angel arrived (28:2). The risen saints entered Jerusalem (27:53). With His death and resurrection, the end-time began.
But mustn’t we wait until the Lord returns? Matthew knew what we know: Christ is present in Word and Sacrament. Eucharist is the Real Presence. Besides, Matthew assures us of the Lord’s constant presence. Jesus speaks the last line of Matthew’s Gospel: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (28:20). The CCC explains how: “in his Word, in his Church’s prayer, ‘where two or three are gathered in my name,’ in the poor, the sick, the imprisoned.” Most important, Christ is in the Eucharist (para. 1373).
We can lose sight of Him, however. Bad news can blind us. The Lord predicts what we experience: wars, famines, earthquakes, persecutions, hatred, evil and sin, and disciples let their love grow cold (24:5-12). In addition, playing on our fears, false prophets bamboozle us. Mostly, however, we go about our business missing opportunities to be in His presence (24:36-44).
Jesus has a response to the blinding forces. We should stay awake for opportunities to experience Him. We should ignore the false prophets; no one, not even He, knows the time for the end (24:36). The bad times, as frightening as they are, become opportunities. He calls them labor pains—times of expectation, times to consider our potential (24:8).
Although the final judgment is in the future, Matthew is telling us to find the Lord now and therefore, to realize our potential (25:31-46). At the judgment, Jesus will separate the world’s population into sheep and goats. He is hungry and thirsty, a stranger, naked, ill, and imprisoned. Sheep minister to Him. Goats do not react to His need.
Matthew heightens our awareness of our times. Christ is with us now in the end-time. We can unite with Him through the Eucharist and in His Word, in prayer, and when people reconcile, as well as in the poor, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned. Don’t miss the opportunity.