Pala: Know that He is near

Fr. Kurt Pala

Sunday Gospel Mark 13:24-32/i>

THIS Sunday is the 33rd Sunday, the last Sunday of the year in our Church calendar. Next Sunday will be the feast of Christ the King.

In the gospel this Sunday, Jesus speaks about the end of times. He used the symbol of the fig tree. “Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. So with you, when you see these things happening: know that he is near, at the very gates.”

The fig tree is often mentioned in the Bible. In the gospel the tree is a symbol of God’s faithfulness to His people. Year after year, people will know that summer is near as soon as the twigs of the fig tree grow supple and leaves come out.

Our God is a faithful God for when the heaven and earth will pass away, His words will not pass away. The thought of the end of time or of death brings so much fear and distress to many. Old age for instance is a painful wait for many. I once visited a home of the aged - some of whom have families who have abandoned them. Some of them shared how they spent their whole life looking after and caring for their children and in their old age they have been forgotten. It is a painful sight to see many of them spending their time waiting for their lives to end in pain and suffering.

How should we respond to death and the end of time as Christians? We are called to respond with hope. A leaf of a fig tree coming out is a symbol of hope. “Know that he is near,” is an assurance that God is with us. The name Emmanuel means “God is with us.”

The Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament of the End-Time. According to one theologian, the End-Time is that period of history from the Christ-Event until his second coming. It is the period between the Resurrection of Jesus to the completion of the Kingdom of God. As a Sacrament of the End-Time, the Holy Eucharist reminds us of the nature of the time we are in.

It is basically a time of waiting and watching for the Lord - not a passive waiting but an active waiting. We do not just sit and wait but we walk and work for the Kingdom to grow here and now. We are an Easter people, a people of hope. In the Holy Eucharist, we experience hope and joy. It points us to the future and keeps us joyful in the present.

"But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father." Because we do not know when this day or hour comes, we are called to make every moment count. Make every moment count, every moment is God-moment.

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God.

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.


One day during the communion, an elderly lady came up to me to receive Holy Communion. As I gave her the Body of Christ, she said without hesitation, “Maraming Salamat po, Panginoon!” She said “Thank you very much, Lord!” She may not be liturgical correct in her response but she is definitely right in her attitude - gratefulness.

Know that he is near. Pope Francis reminds us that God always with us “and that is certain... from the first moment of creation the Lord has been involved with us. The Lord is close to his people, very close. He himself says: what people on Earth has a god so close to them as I am to you?” But the Lord always goes his own way to come into our life. So often he comes so slowly and often seem not to hear our prayers. Be patient. Pope Francis added that the Lord takes his time, As much as we are asked to wait, God does and He waits for us.

Give God a chance. God is a faithful God. Be patient.

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