Readings: Malachi 4:1-2; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19
Grace and peace to you dear brothers and sisters in the Lord. Today is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. As we draw close to the end of the liturgical year, the Church invites us to reflect on the end of time and the final judgement. This is not to scare us but to help us examine our disposition as we await the Lord. The messages of today can be summarised as:
I. Do not give up on God
II. Do not be lazy
III. Do not be deceived
IV. Do not be frightened
Let us begin with the First Reading.
FIRST READING: MALACHI 4:1-2
(Do not give up on God)
Malachi preached between 450 and 430 BC, after the Exile, when the Temple had already been rebuilt. The people expected glory and prosperity, but life remained difficult. Their worship became routine, sacrifices were careless, and some priests and religious leaders were corrupt. Many doubted God’s justice and said, “Where is the God of justice?”
This loss of faith made God send Malachi as a messenger to remind the people that God has not changed. God is not indifferent. Evil will not triumph forever. The Day of the Lord will come, and on that day the arrogant and the wicked will face judgement, while those who fear the Lord will see the Sun of Righteousness shining upon them.
Many of us can identify with the people in Malachi’s time. We look at the world, at the injustice, the confusion, the suffering and the unanswered questions and we wonder where God is. Malachi assures us that God is working in silence, guiding history. The question is not whether God is faithful, but whether we will remain faithful when the day of the Lord comes.
SECOND READING: 2 THESSALONIANS 3:7-12 (Do not be lazy)
Paul speaks firmly to the Thessalonian community because some members misunderstood the teaching on the Lord’s return. Thinking the end was near, they abandoned work and daily responsibilities. They became idle and spent their time gossiping and interfering in the lives of others.
Paul reminds them that he himself worked with his hands so as not to be a burden. Then he gives the principle: anyone who is unwilling to work should not eat. This is not an attack on the poor, the sick or those who struggle. It is a correction for those who choose laziness and spiritual carelessness.
For Paul, there is no place for laziness in Christianity. Physical laziness and spiritual laziness both weaken the Church. Sloth, which is spiritual laziness, is a capital sin. It is the refusal to do the good we know we should do. Many people waste time, delay conversion, procrastinate, neglect prayer, avoid responsibilities or allow gossip to replace meaningful service.
Dear friends, Christ must not return to find us idle. He must find us praying, serving, helping, building and loving. Waiting for the Lord must be active, not passive.
GOSPEL: LUKE 21:5-19
(Do not be deceived and do not be frightened).
In the Gospel, Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple, the pride of Israel. He speaks of wars, violence, disasters and persecutions of Christians. These signs sound frightening, but they do not mean that the end is immediate.
The disciples must have been deeply shaken, yet Jesus gives two spiritual instructions that are essential for every Christian.
- Do not be deceived
Jesus warns us that many false voices will arise. Some will claim to be sent by God. Others will create fear. Some will twist scripture. Some will preach a softer, watered down Gospel. Others will create confusion with dreams, visions and predictions of the end.
Deception today comes in many subtle forms. There are ideologies that distort the truth, media that normalises sin, spiritual influencers who teach heresies and mislead people. Many young people follow voices that do not lead to Christ. We must remain rooted in scripture, tradition, community and prayer so that we are not misled (Read Matthew 7:15, 24:11; 2 Corinthians 2:11)
- Do not be frightened
The second instruction is simple. Do not be afraid. Fear is one of the devil’s strongest tools. Fear creates panic, fear weakens faith, fear makes us think and act as if God is far away.
Jesus assures us that even when the world seems unstable, He remains in control. Not a single hair on your head will fall without His knowledge. Courage is part of Christian discipleship. The Lord wants us to be steady, calm, prayerful and strong.
Someone gave me a teacup with the phrase, Keep Calm and Carry On. It was a message used by the British government during the Second World War to encourage people not to panic. Jesus tells us the same thing today – Keep calm, trust me and carry on. Do not let fear rule your heart. God is always ahead of the storm, preparing a safe path for those who remain faithful.
Finally, Jesus calls us to be witnesses. We live in a time when people are asking questions about truth and meaning, about God’s existence, His justice and goodness. Many are confused and afraid. In the midst of chaos, Christians must become signs of hope and clarity. We must let people know that true hope, true peace, true safety and true love can only be found in God.
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus, give us the grace to remain faithful. Strengthen our hearts so that we do not give up, become lazy, fall into deception or live in fear. Help us persevere with courage until you come again in glory. Amen.
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on November 16, 2025.