Living in the Final Hour

Good News Reflection
Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas
December 31, 2010

Available as a Good News Ministries Podcast:
http://gnm.org/DailyReflections/podcasts

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Today's Readings:
1 John 2:18-21
Ps 96:1-2, 11-13
John 1:1-18
http://www.usccb.org/nab/123110.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_12_31.mp3

Living in the Final Hour

Today's first reading tells us: "Children, it is the last hour." Let's look at: What is the "last hour"? When will it finally happen? Or has it happened already? For two millennia, people have been looking for the Second Coming of Christ, expecting it to happen soon, wishing it would happen very soon to rescue our world from evil-doings. It seems like now would be a good time for it, right? Just look at the rampant immorality that's occurring everywhere. And it's only getting worse! Where is Jesus? When is that "last hour"?

I vaguely remember a time when we could leave home without locking our doors. Now we not only have to lock up everything, we don't even feel safe walking alone outside the house. Crime has increased; respect for human life has decreased. More people are unemployed. Fewer families stay together, fewer mothers stay home to raise their children (mainly because of the bad economic times we've been living in), and fewer fathers take their kids to church. Fewer men become priests. Terrorists could attack again at any moment. And the earth’s changing climate is potentially very disastrous.

Where is Jesus? When is that "last hour"?

History repeats itself; an analysis of historical trends reveals cycles of alternating renewal and deterioration. We are, in fact, at the same part of the cycle as the Great Depression and World War II. Eventually this will lead to a new renewal period.

As I've studied this phenomenon of historical cycles while praying about it, I've gained confidence in the belief that God will once again make good come from bad. For example, I believe that we will see an increase of vocations within the next 10 years, because the world needs more heroes and young men will be attracted to the heroic side of the priesthood.

I also believe that we will see an increase in respect for the life of unborn babies because, by necessity, our society is becoming much more protective of children. Abortions won't be stopped by legislation; abortions will be stopped by an increase in understanding the humanness of the fetus and a growing desire to be protective. Laws that make abortions easier will backfire, because they will trigger a larger response from more people who want to protect life more than they had in recent history.

If we only look at the bad that happens, we easily lose hope. We naturally want Jesus to hurry up and bring us total victory over evil by destroying all evil-doers and rapturing us from this terrible world. Instead, we should look for Jesus in what he is doing now and expect him to bring his victory to earth by making good come from bad.

The "last hour" that scriptures speaks of is the era of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to change the world by continuing the mission of Christ. Instead of relying on the Second Coming of Christ to rescue us, we are to be the hands and feet and voice of Jesus overcoming evil in the world today.

Today's Gospel reading draws us back to the first hour: "In the beginning was the Word." Jesus is the first and the last Word. As the year 2010 ends and 2011 begins, let us ask: "What will I do in the new year to be the Good News of Jesus and renew our world?"

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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