Saint Michael the Archangel, artist unknown.

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At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people…    Daniel 12:1.

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In my parish at the end of every Mass, we recite the Prayer of St. Michael the archangel, and today we have one of the classic references to this chief messenger (the meaning of the world “archangel”). Angels always deliver messages from God, the very reason they exist. And today this archangel predicts the end time of great distress when many asleep “in the dust” will awake, some to eternal life, others condemned to “everlasting horror and disgrace”. Scholars suggest that this passage from the Old Testament Book of Daniel may be the first reference to resurrection. Jesus in today’s gospel also talks about the end time, “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken”. He also added, “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”. But the whole idea of the apocalypse, the end of everything, has been catnip to many people who have not been able to resist predicting when it will happen, despite Jesus’ words that even he did not know when that would happen! There are currently about five predictions of doom, ranging from 2026 to 2280, none of which is by a Christian, which might be a record! But there is one prediction which might be very real, the possible end of the universe itself according to some calculations, possibly in 20-100 trillion years time. Well, who knows? So what we have to do is simply take Jesus’ words seriously, because one thing is absolutely, rock-solid certain: each one of us will reach that moment personally and all alone, when we are called from this life, perhaps peacefully in our sleep, or possibly in terrible circumstances. And that is what we should be thinking about, I believe, in today’s readings.

Each one of us will be summoned, one day, to account for our actions in the here and now. Considering that certainty, what will each one of us have to say before a judge who knows us better than we know ourselves? But clearly what we have to say for ourselves is pretty important, warts and all. And I think, to try and understand what the Lord is talking about today, we have to recognize within ourselves the signs of the impending time when we will be summoned. For example, Jesus says, “Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.” Can’t that be interpreted in our lives? When things are going well, we should not be complaisant but ensure that we are still being obedient to God’s laws which, paradoxically, might be more difficult to follow in good times than in bad times. It is in bad times that more people go running to God than come to Mass every Sunday, recognizing a deep need that only God can handle. But we will be judged on everything we have done in our time, not just on those challenging times when we ran to God for help.

So as we approach the end of the church’s year – next Sunday is the feast of Christ the King, after which Advent will begin the following Sunday – the theme of reckoning comes up frequently. Each one of us is responsible for our own life. There can be no passing of the buck when we stand before God. We will have to justify everything we have done in the light of God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice for each one of us. Have we acted generously (consider last week’s gospel of the widow’s mite)? Have we acted always with love? Have we acted just as Jesus would in all kinds of situations and challenge? Have each of us always been a good and trusty servant of God? If there are any hesitations there, then what are we all going to do about it in the time we have left, because when we stand before God we will be unable to do anything to correct it. All our life should be focussed on that ultimate moment, starting today if necessary, when we can, right now, really do something in preparation for that ultimate moment. For we are not alone; the Lord waits for us to respond to his call to love and is ready and always willing to help us be our best.

What is Your Final Message? Joyce Holzman Hanscom.

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