33c   11/7/16

Malachi 3:19-20a    God says that there will be a terrible day of reckoning.   The evildoers will be completely consumed by fire but those who truly respect the Lord will receive the warmth of God’s goodness.  (1 Corinthians 5:10)  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.”  Our behavior has its consequences.  The Lord God alone is the judge of what we do.

Luke 21:5-19     Some people were speaking of the splendor of the temple in Jerusalem but Jesus said that at some time in the future it would all be destroyed.  When would that all happen? Be careful because some people will come who will say that they know from God when the end of the world will come.   Don’t believe them.  Many terrible things will happen but that is still not the end.

Before those signs come about, the followers of Jesus will be persecuted.  The leaders of the government will be seated before you and judge you.  Jesus promises to give us a verbal defense so that there will be no need to prepare one for ourselves. (Luke 12:11-12  When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say.   For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.)  Even people close to us will betray us to the authorities.  No matter what they do to your body; your soul will be safe and sound.  All created things of this world will come to an end.   All those who to make themselves like little gods, going against the one and only true God, will be vanquished.  Only He will be victorious.

2 Thessalonians 3:7-12     Between now and the end time, we must act in an orderly way as we have been taught by the saints of our Church.  “If anyone is unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.” Mind your own business and not that of others.

1 Thessalonians 1:5-7    “For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and [with] much conviction.  You know what sort of people we were [among] you for your sake.  And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the Holy Spirit, so that you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”

We have the responsibility to be a good example to others.  As followers of Jesus we become collaborators in the work of God: to help bring everyone to heaven.