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.