Every few years, someone rises with a new prediction about the end of the world. Recently, a South African Christian Preacher claimed that in a vision, Jesus told him that the “Rapture” (the event in which believers will be taken up to heaven) would occur on September 23rd and September 24th, 2025, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. He said he saw Jesus “sitting on his throne,” and heard the words, “I am coming soon.” The prediction quickly went viral on social media. Some people sold their belongings, some quit their jobs, some gave away their possessions, and others waited anxiously for the skies to fall. That prediction followed a long historical pattern of end-time date claims, which have repeatedly failed to materialize. Whenever I hear of such predictions, I wonder: If Jesus himself said that no one knows the day or the hour, not the angels, not even the Son of Man, then why are human beings claiming to know what even Christ refused to reveal? If he chose silence, why do we choose certainty?
The question, therefore, is not about when the world will end, but how we are living now. Our responsibility as Christians is not to predict the hour but to be ready at every hour, steadily, faithfully, and without fear. As this liturgical year comes to a close, the readings turn our hearts toward the realities of the end times, not to frighten us, but to awaken us.
In the first reading, the people of Israel were discouraged. They had returned from exile, hoping for a better life, yet nothing seemed to improve. They began to ask, “Is it useless to serve God?” But through Malachi, God assures them that a day is coming, a day of justice, when the difference between the faithful and the wicked will be made clear. In other words: Stay faithful. God sees. God remembers.
Furthermore, in the second reading, some Christians in Thessalonica were convinced the end was just around the corner, so they stopped working, stopped contributing, and started distracting others. Saint Paul firmly tells them: Waiting for Christ is not an excuse for laziness. No one who refuses to work should eat. Be ready, but do not be idle. Keep walking. Keep working. Keep serving.
In the Gospel passage, people admire the beauty of the Temple, but Jesus reminds them that even the most solid stones will fall. Kingdoms will collapse. Earthly powers will fade. And yet, Jesus does not tell his disciples to be afraid. Instead, he says, “Do not be terrified… By your perseverance, you will secure your lives.” Yes, there will be wars and divisions, betrayals and persecutions, confusion and noise all around. But faith does not panic, faith perseveres.
My dearly beloved in Christ, some people respond to uncertainty with fear, others with predictions. But Jesus invites us to respond with faithful readiness. Not fear-filled waiting, but grace-filled living. Maybe your life today is filled with challenges, family tensions, health concerns, economic pressure, or a sense that the world is growing darker. Let me remind you: Darkness does not have the final word. God does. What is painful now will not last forever, and what is beautiful now is not permanent either. Everything passes, except God and those who cling to God.
Sometimes, people ask, “Father, how do we prepare for the end without living in anxiety?” We prepare not by staring at the sky in fear, but by living faithfully on the ground: Stay close to God in prayer, confession, and the Eucharist. Stay faithful in your duties in your family, work, and responsibilities. Stay loving, forgive quickly, serve generously, and let no bitterness remain in your heart. Stay hopeful, God is not absent. He is near, even in chaos.
The end of the world is not something to fear but something to be ready for. For the one who walks with God, the end is not a disaster; it is a homecoming. So, let us not waste time predicting the hour. Let us spend our time preparing our hearts. Jesus does not say, “Your fear will save you.” He says, “Your perseverance will secure your lives.”
Homily for 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 2025
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