While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, “All that you see here–
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

Then they asked him,
“Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
He answered,
“See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end.”
Then he said to them,
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

“Before all this happens, however,
they will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

“It never ends!” you might exclaim — just when you think you have seen everything, there is something else, and just like you, I exclaim too, “It never ends!” But it will end! 

Consider the awesome Temple in Jerusalem and how Jesus said it would be destroyed — that it would end. And in the year of 70 AD it did end — destroyed, gone.  And even this planet Earth is not made to last forever.  Scientists know this and agree.  It is not for us to know when, but this Earth of ours will not last forever, and there will be an end.

But in the meantime …

Until the end, what do we do?  We can care for our earthly home. Recycling, for instance, makes for a cleaner planet Earth and a better quality of life. This applies also to our care for our immortal soul. A family who is about the Word of God, the Sunday Mass, about the sacraments — confession whenever there is serious sin, living out the Sacrament of marriage — about daily prayer, morality 101 … These actions in support of the family’s spiritual health make for a cleaner soul and for a real quality of life in the meantime.

One of my deepest prayers is that each and every baby that I baptize will have an awesome life with Christ and His Catholic Church.  Living life that way in the meantime — it just doesn’t get any better than that! And when the end comes, there is a victory for you in Heaven.  

Today our parish is hosting 7 future deacons of the Catholic Church. The bishop and the priests need them. They are necessary to help get the word out about, “in the meantime.”  And our people need you, too! Be here for us to show us that clean, quality of life found in life with Christ and His Catholic Church. Future deacons, “be there for us.” We absolutely need you and thank you for responding to your vocation as a deacon of the Church.  

I recently prepared a young adult who kept asking for Baptism. In the preparation I taught him the Four Last Things: death, judgement, Heaven, Hell. I am certain he did not want to go to Hell, or he would not have come to me to seek baptism. So I directed him to a life with Christ and His Catholic Church and all that he had to do, … in the meantime. And in the end there will be Heaven.

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor & Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica and Saint Anthony Parish

Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,
when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble,
and the day that is coming will set them on fire,
leaving them neither root nor branch,
says the LORD of hosts.
But for you who fear my name, there will arise
the sun of justice with its healing rays.

R. (cf. 9)  The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth,
he will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

Brothers and sisters:
You know how one must imitate us.
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day
we worked, so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right.
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us.
In fact, when we were with you,
we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work,
neither should that one eat.
We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a
disorderly way,
by not keeping busy but minding the business of others.
Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly
and to eat their own food.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.