Homily: November 28, 2023,Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time (Signs )

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 Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"

Signs are very helpful in our everyday life. When I first came to this church, I had a hard time finding the confessional. There were no signs. I thought it might be somewhere in the vestibule and after going down the stairs, I ended up at the restrooms.

Directional signs tell us where to go, spiritual signs tell us what to do. When Jesus spoke about the destruction of the temple, He was also warning the disciples about fake news and scammers. So simply looking for signs may not help, because there are misleading and false signs that will only lead to more confusion and wrong turns.

The only reliable signs in life are the Holy Word of God and the teachings and traditions of the church passed down from the Apostles. Our Christian faith guides and provides, it shows the right path to the right place. I have preached before that all the prophecies in the Bible have both an immediate and an eschatological fulfillment. Fulfilment in Jesus’ life and time, and fulfilment at the end of time. And so, read the Bible, practice the faith.

In today’s first reading, during the Babylonian exile, Daniel explained King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. He revealed that there would be four kingdoms that would rule the world, especially the Israelites.

That prophecy came true. The Persians attacked Babylon. Subsequently, the Greeks emerged, spreading their reign throughout the known world, followed by the Romans.

Jesus lived during the reign of the Romans. In AD 70, the Romans  destroyed the old temple. 

When we read the Old Testament, we see the fulfilment of the prophesies fulfilled by Jesus and the other events in the New Testament. From Jesus and His apostles, we receive more teachings about the Kingdom of God and the end times. Do you believe these will all be fulfilled accordingly?

We are now in the last week of the liturgical year, let us be reminded that there will be an end time when we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

Do not look for external signs from the world and its happenings but look to the scriptures and hear it from God, from Jesus Himself how to prepare for that moment.

From the first reading we heard, “The great God has revealed to the king what shall be in the future; this is exactly what you dreamed, and its meaning is sure."

The future is ruled by Christ the King, and the signs we should focus on do not tell us ‘When’ but tell us ‘how’: keep faithful to our King, live as He has commanded, receive the sacraments which He has instituted, and we will be ready for the day He comes again.

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.


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Homily April 29, Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

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