Last Sunday during my homily, I compared God’s plan for human beings to a design project for building a house. It is the design of the architect that gives the possibility of building a house that is safe, beautiful and long-lasting. Without an intelligently designed project, materials for a building are simply piles of materials amassed in the same area. Only having a project with a specific design enables workers to assemble them in a proper sequence to form a building.
I mentioned that the conclusion of the world, as was predicted and described by Jesus in the Gospel of Mark is nothing that we, Christians, should be afraid of. The opposite is true. Namely, Jesus’ prediction of the conclusion of history is in fact a demonstration of the Divine Project regarding us. The individual human being’s life and the life of the created world as we experience it, has its limits and cannot continue indefinitely. The Son of Man’s coming at the end of time reveals God’s act of salvation, not condemnation. It is also the final and ultimate manifestation of God’s saving action for us.
God’s Divine Project, like a project for a good house, helps us understand that we are here not accidentally. We are not created by mistake or by chance, like winning the lottery. It tells us that we are wanted, loved and part of the plan, a good plan for us individually and for the entire human race. It helps us to recognize a sense of logic in this world and that the world is not heading towards some unknown direction but to a specific goal, a specific conclusion and fulfillment.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we see Jesus again, the Son of Man who, before his glorious appearance at the end of time, first made himself known as King in his passion. Up to this point, Jesus always slipped away when people tried to make him king, obviously not understanding who He really was. But now, as He approaches His crucifixion, He can and must reveal who He is: the origin and the goal of the world. In a dialogue with Pilate, Jesus openly confirms “I am a king” because He “came into the world to testify about the truth.” This truth is the Father’s love for the world, which the Son represents in His life, death and Resurrection. The Cross is the proof that the Father loves us, His creation, so much that He permits even the crucifixion to happen. The inscription on the Cross, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews,” is written in three key languages of the ancient world – Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. Not only is Jesus King of the Jews, but He is also the King of all – the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. This proclaims the truth of God’s love to everyone, and forever.
Today’s celebration reveals the mysterious, but logical and beautiful plan of our salvation. . Discovering this design more and more deeply should lead us – God’s children – to authentic awe and sincere worship. It encourages us to respond to this plan with a life that corresponds to the love that God offers us.
Fr. Mark Jurzyk