Walking with Jesus: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Sunday, November 16, 2025

Malachi 3:19-20, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12, Luke 21:5-19


Today’s readings concern the final judgment. Much of the book of the prophet Malachi deals with “The Day of the Lord.” This expression echoes the end-time — the final judgment of God on all peoples. Another expression is “apocalyptic” — a writing with symbolism intended to give hope to a persecuted people; a violent change or upheaval in which evil forces are destroyed. After Jesus dies there is a very common belief that the end times, the end of the world, will come quickly. That is one reason why Scripture scholars tell us the Gospels were written 40 years after Jesus’ death: after all, why spend time writing when the most urgent need was telling the people about Jesus, converting them to His way of love and living? The people, those who believe, live in fear of the Romans who are arresting them no matter what happens. We can only imagine the fear they also have of the Jewish leaders, teachers and the Jewish people who are not supporting them. They wrestle with their own forms of discouragement over those who are tearing down the “Jesus movement.” The last words from Jesus in the Gospel sum it up: “You will be hated by all because of My name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” [Luke 21:19]

Just a note: Apocalyptic writing follows a regular pattern in Scripture: (1) The author describes historical events up to the time of his writing, (2) he refers to future events rather vaguely, and (3) he foretells the cosmic events of the end: resurrection, judgment and the consummation of the world.  (Malachi and Luke today deal with the final stage of apocalypse: the judgment and the consummation of the world.)

Malachi emphasizes how terrible this day will be for the wicked. His passage uses images of heat to present it as a day that various people will experience differently. The wicked will experience a blazing fire burning in an oven, demolishing all to stubble “leaving them neither root nor branch.” [Malachi 3:19] For the just ones, the faithful ones who live by the Lord and fear and respect Him, the Lord’s fire instead will be like “… the sun of justice with its healing rays, bringing the healing experience and love.” [Malachi 3:20] Their experience brings with it God’s warmth and God’s healing. We need to remember that these descriptions are symbolic, so it’s easy to miss much of their profound meaning. We might identify with those who are saved and those who suffer God’s justice, even when it looks like evil will triumph. The concept of the Day of the Lord should embolden us to trust that good will ultimately be victorious because God is in charge. So is our faith this strong?

Paul is sharing with his community his own conduct as an example for them to follow. We can speak and proclaim what Jesus said, but are we being witnesses to this by the way we live each day? People watch us — in good times and bad, when we are in public and in private. Are our lives “yes Lord” or “maybe Lord,” whichever is convenient for us? Paul condemns those within the community who have acted as busybodies rather than being obedient. He insists that if people want to eat they must work like others. Do I live my love?

Luke describes the people admiring the Temple as Jesus is describing its destruction. This is the second Temple of Jerusalem, constructed after the Jews have returned from Babylonian Exile. Initially it can’t compare with the splendid one built by Solomon, but King Herod responds by making it more magnificent. What great pride the people have in seeing and worshiping in it. Jesus is not describing its destruction but rather the events that will precede it — signs the people should be aware of. But before Jesus identifies the signs, He warns His listeners against those who might appear claiming that they have come in Jesus’s name to interpret the meaning of the events. But the end is not here yet — there are signs of persecutions the people (you and me) still must endure. How am I living during this time of upheaval? God will not come at the end to condemn but to save. The suffering that precedes the end is intended for purification and cleansing, not punishment. How am I doing?

So I reflect on:

• Read Paul’s words like an exasperated parent: “If you kids don’t quit screaming and kicking each other right now, and if the room isn’t clean in exactly five minutes, nobody’s getting any dinner!”
• How was I a model today? I review my words and actions in front of another, what would I be pleased for that person to imitate? What imitation might displease me?

Sacred Space 2025 states:

“On reading the lives of martyrs one is struck by the extraordinary courage with which they endure their sufferings. They receive a special grace from God for this. Let us pray for the grace to endure persecution if it comes and for the grace of perseverance in our Christian lives.

“In the Lord’s sight a thousand years are but a day. God is outside of time, which is a human construct. Every moment consists of a series of instants. This instant with God in prayer has never been before and it will never be again. Can I stay in this special “now” with God, even for a short while?”