Trying Times
Fr.Gus Carter
11 /14/ 04

Passages from Scripture about the end of the world have at times been called "nightmare literature." Technically, they are called "apocalyptic literature." The onset of such kinds of writings began to flourish about two centuries before the birth of Christ. The main cause of recounting such horrific events was the persecution of the Jewish people by their Greek rulers. The ruling government, descendants of Alexander the Great's generals, held up Hebrew ways to scorn. They began to insist that the Hebrews adopt Greek ways and abandon their Jewish customs. Those Jews who did not comply were persecuted and killed. The arch-enemy of the Jewish people was Antiochus Epiphanes. He even enthroned the statue of a pagan god in the Hebrew Temple. The original authors of apocalyptic literature expressed their confusion, fears and apprehension in sometimes bizarre images. These images were taken from various parts of old Jewish scripture passages such as the Books of Moses, Isaiah and other prophets.

With the rise of Christianity after Jesus' death many Romans considered the new religion as perverse because they worshiped one who had been executed for treason. The Romans also feared new religions since they often gave rise to unrest among the people. When things went wrong among the civilian population, Christians were an easy scapegoat. The last book of the Bible, once called The Apocalypse, was a reaction to the persecution of early Christians. The writings were meant to strengthen the faith of and to console an oppressed people. The main message is that no matter what happens God takes care of those who serve Him. The hope was held out to the Christians that angels were on their side and that they would have eternal life.

Over the centuries apocalyptic literature has attracted many people because the images express their own nightmare sense of life. Preachers have predicted the end of the world since St. Paul's time. Beginning in the eighteen hundreds and up to our present time, religious leaders have predicted the end of the world, the end of life as it now exists. Life appears so bad to some people that the only cure they can see is total destruction of the world as it is now. Life certainly can be difficult at times and individuals wonder why they were born.

Another approach to the hardships of life is to believe that this world in the long run does not count. We are engaged in a kind of busy work that God demands of us now; our only hope awaits us in heaven. Others have held that the material world is bad; our bodies tempt us; if something is fun, evil most likely lurks there.

On the other hand, numerous people have felt a drive to live life to the full. Some years ago a beer commercial urged audiences. "Go for the gusto!" For others living life to the full means experiencing every pleasure possible. However, our urge for pleasure does not take into account the total life of a person. Pleasure for pleasure's sake becomes addictive, dissipating and fragmenting. Yet the urge to live life to the full does come from God. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." Jesus also said, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete."

God reveals to us that fullness of love is fullness of life. What the world calls love, though, can be a trap. I recall a fragment of a song about someone who "loved unwisely but well." Jesus teaches us how to live wisely and he gives us the strength to love well. The light and dark side of life was well expressed by a French poet: "Life is short and we have not too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark way with us. 0 be swift to love. Make haste to be kind."

Theologians speak of human transcendence which means to Christians that we humans are made for God. Humans have an infinite capacity to love. What a shame if we barricade love within us out of fear or bitterness. May we desire to spend to the max the love that God puts into our hearts. Even if life is hard, we still have the opportunity to love.

This week we might reflect on our own desire to live, to have our lives count for something. Do any of us feel that life is passing us by? St. John of the Cross summed up Christian life when he said, "In the evening of life you will be judged by love." How much love do we try to give each day? How much do we try to open ourselves to the infinite love of God for which we were made? How often have we felt that loving is what life is really all about? It is a way to live in the now. It is also the promise of eternal life. We could all profit by examining ourselves each day. In what ways have I been loving today? How am I really grasping the life that the Lord has given me, and how am I giving to and loving others?