Here is the text of my reflection for this weekend, motivated by a visit that I had this week with some inquisitive students.
Every year, as we approach the season of Advent, the scripture passages proposed for our reflection speak of the end times. As providence would dictate, I happened to visit with some students this past week. The topics of our discussion were wide and varied. Among the questions that were asked, there was a particular concern: Who made God? In an attempt to answer this question, I explained that every one of us lives within a linear concept of time. Each one of us can define the date of our birth and the major events of our lives to date can be plotted on a linear graph. The graph can also be extended into the future and we can dream about what we might like to accomplish, but at some point, the line will end, and this is the point that we define as death.
Saint Mark describes that culminating moment in this way: the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken (Mk 13:24-25). There are many in our world who would have us believe that images such as these are meant to predict the end of the world as we know it, but if we were to stop at this conclusion, we would be no better off. In fact, we would be surrendering to the conclusions that are reached by many who are without faith.
Christians have always believed that there is another story that needs to be told. Instead of surrender, we believe that there is always a ray of hope. In fact, the prophet Daniel says that at that time, Michael the great prince ... shall arise (Dan 12:1) and God’s people will be delivered. This is an image that speaks eloquently about hope, and hope is a central theme to the life of all Christians. Hope is at the centre of our salvation history. Hope is at the core of the Easter mystery that speaks of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. We should never forget that Jesus suffered, died ... and rose again, and because he rose, we too can look forward to eternal life in heaven.
When I tried to explain to the students I met this week that God lives outside the confines of time, off the grid that is created by our linear concept of time, they had a bit of difficulty understanding how this could be, but I took a chance and pushed a little further. I encouraged them to think of physical death as the moment when we will all be invited to pass through a doorway that leads us out of a linear concept of existence, to the fullness of life which our souls will enjoy in the presence of God in heaven.
We can look forward to the fulfillment of this promise because Christ ... offered for all time, a single sacrifice for our sins ... by which he has already perfected for all time, all those who are sanctified (Heb 10:12, 14). Christ has already paid the price for our admission into heaven. This is the good news of the gospel, the source of our Christian hope. The day will come for each of us when our linear concept of existence will be no more. At that moment, Jesus will be waiting to welcome us into the glory of eternal life with him in heaven.
The end that is to come
Every year, as we approach the season of Advent, the scripture passages proposed for our reflection speak of the end times. As providence would dictate, I happened to visit with some students this past week. The topics of our discussion were wide and varied. Among the questions that were asked, there was a particular concern: Who made God? In an attempt to answer this question, I explained that every one of us lives within a linear concept of time. Each one of us can define the date of our birth and the major events of our lives to date can be plotted on a linear graph. The graph can also be extended into the future and we can dream about what we might like to accomplish, but at some point, the line will end, and this is the point that we define as death.
Saint Mark describes that culminating moment in this way: the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken (Mk 13:24-25). There are many in our world who would have us believe that images such as these are meant to predict the end of the world as we know it, but if we were to stop at this conclusion, we would be no better off. In fact, we would be surrendering to the conclusions that are reached by many who are without faith.
Christians have always believed that there is another story that needs to be told. Instead of surrender, we believe that there is always a ray of hope. In fact, the prophet Daniel says that at that time, Michael the great prince ... shall arise (Dan 12:1) and God’s people will be delivered. This is an image that speaks eloquently about hope, and hope is a central theme to the life of all Christians. Hope is at the centre of our salvation history. Hope is at the core of the Easter mystery that speaks of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. We should never forget that Jesus suffered, died ... and rose again, and because he rose, we too can look forward to eternal life in heaven.
When I tried to explain to the students I met this week that God lives outside the confines of time, off the grid that is created by our linear concept of time, they had a bit of difficulty understanding how this could be, but I took a chance and pushed a little further. I encouraged them to think of physical death as the moment when we will all be invited to pass through a doorway that leads us out of a linear concept of existence, to the fullness of life which our souls will enjoy in the presence of God in heaven.
We can look forward to the fulfillment of this promise because Christ ... offered for all time, a single sacrifice for our sins ... by which he has already perfected for all time, all those who are sanctified (Heb 10:12, 14). Christ has already paid the price for our admission into heaven. This is the good news of the gospel, the source of our Christian hope. The day will come for each of us when our linear concept of existence will be no more. At that moment, Jesus will be waiting to welcome us into the glory of eternal life with him in heaven.
La fin des temps
Chaque année, à l'approche du temps de l'Avent, les Saintes Écritures proposées pour notre réflexion parlent de la fin des temps. Comme la Providence l’a voulu, il m'est arrivé de rendre visite à des étudiants plus tôt cette semaine. Les sujets de notre discussion étaient vastes et variés. Parmi les questions qui ont été posées, il y avait une préoccupation particulière: Qui a créé Dieu? Pour tenter de répondre à cette question, j'ai expliqué que chacun de nous existe dans une conception linéaire du temps. Chacun de nous peut définir la date de sa naissance et les principaux événements de sa vie jusqu’à présent peuvent être représentés sur un graphique linéaire. Le graphique peut également être étendu dans le futur et nous pouvons rêver de ce que nous aimerions accomplir, mais à un moment donné, la ligne prendra fin et nous définissons ce point comme la mort.
Saint Marc décrit ce moment culminant de la manière suivante: le soleil s’obscurcira et la lune ne donnera plus sa clarté; les étoiles tomberont du ciel et les puissances célestes seront ébranlées (Mc 13,24-25). . Beaucoup de personnes dans notre monde voudraient nous faire croire que de telles images sont censées prédire la fin du monde tel que nous le connaissons, mais si nous nous arrêtions à cette conclusion, nous ne serions pas plus avancés. En fait, nous nous soumettrions aux conclusions auxquelles parviennent de nombreuses personnes sans foi.
Les chrétiens ont toujours pensé qu'il y avait une autre histoire à raconter. Au lieu de nous résigner, nous pensons qu'il y a toujours une lueur d'espoir. En fait, le prophète Daniel dit qu’en ce temps-là se lèvera Michel, le chef des anges (Dan 12:1) et que le peuple de Dieu sera délivré. C'est une image qui parle avec éloquence de l’espérance et l'espérance est un thème central de la vie de tous les chrétiens. L'espérance est au centre de notre histoire de salut. Elle est au cœur du mystère de Pâques qui parle de la souffrance, de la mort et de la résurrection de Jésus. Nous ne devrions jamais oublier que Jésus a souffert, qu’il est mort… et qu’il est ressuscité, et à cause du fait qu'il est ressuscité, nous aussi, nous pouvons espérer la vie éternelle au ciel.
Quand j’ai essayé d’expliquer aux étudiants que j’ai rencontrés cette semaine que Dieu vivait hors du temps, en dehors de notre conception linéaire du temps, ils ont eu un peu de difficulté à comprendre comment cela pouvait être possible, mais j’ai tenté ma chance et poussé un peu plus loin ma réflexion. Je les ai encouragés à penser à la mort comme le moment où nous serons tous invités à franchir une porte qui nous mènera hors d'un concept linéaire de l'existence, à la plénitude de la vie dont jouira notre âme en présence de Dieu au paradis.
Nous pouvons espérer l'accomplissement de cette promesse parce que Jésus Christ ... a offert pour les péchés, un unique sacrifice ... par lequel il a déjà mené pour toujours à leur perfection ceux qu’il sanctifie (He 10.12, 14). Notre Seigneur a déjà payé le prix de notre admission au ciel. C’est la bonne nouvelle de l’Évangile, source de notre espérance chrétienne. Le jour viendra pour chacun d’entre nous où notre concept linéaire d’existence ne sera plus. À ce moment-là, Jésus attendra de nous accueillir dans la gloire de la vie éternelle avec lui au ciel.
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