Shikrot Mpwi – Sunday Synopsis
Fr. Justine John Dyikuk
Dear friends in Christ,
On the Thirty-third Sunday of the Year, C (16 November 2025), I bring you greetings and God’s blessings!
Theme: Making Every Moment Count
Introduction
Friends in Christ, in Scotland, the Church celebrates World Day of the Poor and Catholic Education Week. Towards the end of the Church’s Liturgical Calendar, the readings revolve around three themes – judgment, false prophecy and end-time realities. In 2016, a 15-year-old Muslim girl, Hajara Hussaini, reportedly saw the vision of a strange cross, about five feet long, near a Mosque in Assakio, Nassarawa state, Nigeria, while on an errand. In the same year, a shining light appeared on the crucifix in St. Augustine Catholic Church, Nenger, in Makurdi, Benue State. Some Christians and Muslims felt that these were signs of the end times. Really? Well, Jesus insists that no one knows when the Son of Man will return (Cf Matthew 24:36). While the first reading suggests retributive justice, the second reading challenges the faithful to be industrious – ready for every kind of good work. The gospel reveals end-time realities, urging Christians to endure to the end.
Background and Summary of the Readings
The first reading (Malachi 4:1-2a) reveals that at the end of time, God will punish the arrogant and evildoers. It, however, assures that he will let the sun of righteousness shine upon those who fear him, granting them healing.
In the second reading (Thessalonians 3:7-12), St. Paul points to the theology of work, underscoring that God can be praised through it. He challenges the faithful to eschew sloth and instead, embrace a sense of industry – ready for every kind of good work.
In the gospel reading (Luke 21:5-19), Jesus discloses that although the temple is adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, everything in it will be destroyed (The Romans did this in AD 70). He warns that some people will use his name to claim that the end is near. He reveals that nation will rise against nation, as fearful sights and signs would emerge. He details that the elect would be persecuted but assured that they would be given eloquence compared to none. He surmised: “Your endurance will win you your lives.”
Takeaway Lessons
- Although our readings do not specify the day or the hour, the first reading and gospel remind us that judgment is a reality that Christians must prepare for by righteous living.
- In a world replete with fake pastors who claim that the end of the world is in sight, St Paul’s messaging in the second reading urges us to eschew sloth by working assiduously until the Lord returns.
- Pastors of soul are encouraged to prioritise sound catechesis over so-called prophecies while urging the faithful to be wary of fortune-telling, which belongs to the school of the impatient.
- Although Christian pilgrimages are good and evoke faith, we are further encouraged to embrace repentance – the sign of Jonah (Cf Matthew 12:38-45) as an appropriate recipe.
- Since our liturgy suggests the uncertainty of life and the certainty of judgement, we are charged to make every moment count, as it might be our last.
Conclusion
Since no one knows the day nor the hour (Cf. Mark 13:32) because the Lord would come like a thief in the night (Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:2), we are called to embrace readiness and holiness. If both contemporary prophets and the faithful eschew laziness and seek true repentance, the lessons of today’s liturgy would have been learnt. If the faithful are properly fed and led to green pastures, trained contemporary prophets might no longer lose their voices in society, and fake prophets will lose their relevance. Have a blessed week!
