November 17th, 2019 - Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL: Luke 21:5-19

Dear friends,

As we come to the end of the liturgical year, the Word of God today speaks to us about "The end".  Overwhelmed by the horrific description of events such as destruction, wars, revolutions, earthquakes, plagues, famines, and fearful sights, we might forget to hear the real words of Jesus: "Do not be afraid‚ but the end is not so soon" (Luke 21:9).

The situation we are in, in this present world, might be very tough, it might even question our faith in Jesus Christ, yet if we endure, we shall have every course to smile at the end as Jesus assures us today: "Your endurance will win you your lives."

Martin Bogere is a child whose life was changed via sponsorship through CARITAS. He was a total orphan at the age of four. Martin was unable to acquire any formal education until Pamela and Raul, of the United States, came to his assistance. At the time of sponsorship, Martin was a nine-year-old with childhood trauma, giggers (a parasitic insect that eats away at your toes) and living in intense poverty. Now, his giggers have been cured and he recently completed his grade-school-level education. Martin is a living testimony to the impact that bringing hope to the hopeless can have on individuals and whole communities.

We cannot just sit and wait for eternity.  There is no need to stop fulfilling our daily duties (as some Christians in Thessalonica were doing). We are invited to come to terms with our present situation and live it with courage, faith and hope. Let us learn the art of living deeply in God's love, attentive to his presence and responsive to his call to love one another. Then we can truly be the channel of mercy and the sign of hope for all.

Let us be vigilant, hold firm and not lose heart.

God Bless,

Rev. Father Frank Kyazze