My Words Will Not Pass Away

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Melanie Rigney

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. But the wise shall shine bright like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.” (Daniel 12:2-3)

You are my inheritance, O Lord!  (Psalm 16)

But this (priest) offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin. (Hebrews 10: 12-14, 18)

“Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:28-32)

Piety

Jesus, hold me tight.

Study

Anton Kern [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

It is perhaps the most challenging time of the year. The days are short, and will be getting shorter still for the next month. While we’ve had a pleasant reprieve the past few weeks, we are certain the cold is coming. In winter, we hold fast to the knowledge that spring is coming. In fall, we hold fast to the knowledge that… winter is coming. That the craziest weeks of overbooking, stress, and exhaustion are coming. That we are likely to cut short our prayer practice because all this other stuff is coming.

It was one of the most challenging times of my teen years. My “best friend” had encouraged me to break up with my boyfriend… and they promptly began dating. There was a lot going on at home. I’d stopped going to church, and no one seemed to notice. And yet—when I recently encountered a schoolmate I hadn’t seen for forty-plus years, that wasn’t the focus of our conversation. We talked about where we’d been since then and where we are today: relationships begun in hope and ended in ashes. New relationships born. Less than fulfilling jobs, and jobs that challenged our skills and provided meaningful work. Where we’d failed… and where we’d succeeded. Little of it had turned out as we were certain it would be during that challenging season.

Perhaps it’s the same lesson Mark 13 shares with us today: things do change. We don’t often know how or when those changes will come; but we know they will, just as surely as fall follows summer and winter follows fall. And we know that if we hold fast to the Lord, we can persevere through it all… for His Word will not pass away.

Action

Contact someone you haven’t seen in ten or more years. Explore together the places the Lord has taken you in the meantime. Pray for confidence and faith to embrace His will today, tomorrow, and always.