Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 13th November 2022
Lectionary readings:
Malachi 4 v1-2a; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3 v6-13; Luke 21 v5-19.
Healing and Faith
‘But for you who honour my name, victory will shine like the sun with healing in its rays.’ (Malachi 4 v2).
‘Sing a new song to the Lord! He has worked miracles and with his own powerful arm he has won the victory. He is coming to judge everyone on earth and he will be honest and fair.’ (Psalm 98 v1, 9b).
The readings this week are about ‘the day of judgement’ and warnings about trouble. But within them is a thread of confidence in God’s plan for us. The faithful will be vindicated, God’s kingdom will come, it will be established on earth as it is in heaven. Malachi’s reference to healing is one of reassurance that God’s victory over evil will result in the healing of our world.
In Luke’s gospel we read of Jesus preparing his followers for troubles ahead.
“Because of me you will be placed on trial before kings and governors. But this will be your chance to tell about your faith. Don’t worry about what you will say to defend yourselves. I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you or to say that you are wrong. Don’t worry, You will be saved by being faithful to me.” (Luke 21 v12b-15, 18-19).
Jesus reassures his followers that although troubles lie ahead, he will be with them. Jesus promises to be with them in the form of the indwelling Holy Spirit. They will be given the right words to say in their defence and their salvation is assured by their faith in him.
Australian hymn writer Elizabeth Smith offers us her wisdom on the theme of faith.
(not in Singing the Faith, but published in an Anglican hymn-book in Australia.)
Faith will not grow from words alone, from proofs provided, scripture known;
our faith must feel its way about, and live with question marks and doubt.
The pattern Jesus showed, we share: life comes through death, hope through despair.
God is made known in brokenness, and faith feeds on God’s emptiness.
The church still tells how Jesus came through death to glorious life again,
– the strangest story! Yet, maybe, our faith will thrive on mystery.
Faith takes the little that we know, and calls for hope, and tells us: Go!
Love and take courage, come what may; Christ will be with us on the way.
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English version.