Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 354

Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.

Saint Peter offers a fascinating meditation on the end of the world, and our attitude about it. Rather than dreading this catastrophic change -- and everybody hates change -- we should wait for it and hasten it, if that's possible. 

Now I'm pretty sure he was not advocating the use of nuclear weapons with the hope they'd kill only our enemies, as some people suggested in the 1980's. Rather, we hasten the coming of the day by being eager and willing, and by modeling that behavior which will be typical of that new age. When the Lord provides everything we need superabundantly, there will be no need to hoard anything. When the Lord heals every wound we'll have no fear of injury. When the Lord guides us with his crook and his staff we'll have no fear of the dark valley. 

But faith assures us that the Lord already provides, heals, and guides us in all those wonderful ways, and so the faithful hasten the day by acting as if it's already come, as if we believe it. We hasten it, to use a current expression, by leaning into it. 

We await these things by being "eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace." 

That eagerness does not rush into hiding when conflicts develop but comes out to meet them like Pope Leo greeting the Huns. We may have as little as he had by way of compromise, but there is much to say for human, face-to-face contact. The peace in one's face may communicate peace to those who suffer anguish. It's worth a try, and there's nothing to be lost by it. 

In the meanwhile, we "consider the patience of our Lord as salvation." The fact that the end has not come is a sign of God's abiding patience; it is not proof of his nonexistence or helplessness in the face of evil. We know God has everything well in hand. 

Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned,

be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled

and to fall from your own stability.

There is a lot of nonsense out there. Have you noticed? We're told that progress is inevitable, that human evolution is happening before our eyes, and that today's bizarre ideas -- unheard of until recently -- are predetermined by the ineluctable forces of history. 

Excuse me, but I'll take a pass on the latest ideology. People respond to Wolf! -- or Victim! -- only so many times before they become wary. 

The faithful see the future well enough because we're leaning into that place "where righteousness dwells" as we, 

...grow in grace

and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen.