Believe it or not, today’s chilling description of the “end times,” with utter chaos and no stone left standing, is actually not supposed to be a “shock treatment.” Jesus is not using scare tactics. He is simply describing a coming reality: all that we see here on earth will come to an end.
 
Jesus is clearly saying that how things will end is NOT supposed to be our preoccupation now. We need to be living in the present, not in the future.
 
Jesus says, “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified….” When we are called to testify for Jesus before kings and governors, “you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself will give you a wisdom in speaking….” Even when we are hated for believing in Jesus, we should not fear destruction, because the bottom line is, “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
 
The decision to follow Jesus Christ is this process, this movement of following him through death to life. Think about your life as a Catholic Christian. If you are managing to persevere in faith, it is costing you something, isn’t it? Aren’t you paying the price with many small deaths each day? - dying to your selfishness to help your spouse and children, dying to your anger to forgive a friend, dying to your greed so you can give to the poor. This is the way we persevere in focusing on moving through the “small deaths,” and not get frightened by the idea of the physical death at the “end times.”
 
USCCB Meeting – I will be away this week in Baltimore, Maryland for the Fall Bishops meeting. Please pray for all of the bishops that we may respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.