November 13, 2022 - Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Early followers of the Way of Christ believed that soon after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension he would return to bring all things to completion. Some, therefore, decided that they need not work, all that was needed was to just wait for his quick return. In his Second Letter to the Thessalonians Paul criticized this attitude. He placed himself before the Thessalonians as an example to follow, insisting on supporting himself as a tent-maker. Through his example he wanted to show that he was not acting out of a desire for money or personal comforts. In other words, Christ’s final coming will happen but we don’t know when, and we his followers must do our fair share and be responsible in this world as we await that time. We believe that the end time will come about in God’s own time and way. In today’s Gospel Jesus warns about false prophets who pretend to predict the details of God’s plan, and he also warns about persecutions that we his followers will experience. He reminds us to keep our focus on him for he will never abandon us. When our focus is on Jesus and not on our fears and trials, we are able to be strong and let him bring us home. Fr. John Mark Ettensohn, OMI (Homily given by Fr. Jack Lau, OMI)