Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time • Year C

“By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” (Lk 21:19)

As we are in the final weeks of the liturgical year, our readings become “apocalyptic,” that is, an unveiling, revealing the coming end of the liturgical year, revealing the coming end of our life, revealing the coming end of the world. Today’s gospel is considered a “little apocalypse.” It is the beginning of Jesus’ discourse on the end of life. But apocalypse is really all about the resurrection. Pope Leo and our readings these days remind us how important the resurrection is, not only ecclesially and spiritually, but also emotionally and psychologically. It lifts our spirits as well as our belief and gives us focus to continue the journey with him. Our readings today are a clarion call to perseverance, focus, and faithfulness to the mission entrusted to us, no matter what.

In his recent catechesis during the Wednesday general audiences in Rome, Pope Leo XIV has been focusing on the resurrection. He has mentioned in that catechesis that “the resurrection transforms every aspect of our lives…his (Christ’s) Resurrection was marked by the humility of simple ordinary gestures appearing as a gardener, a foreigner, or a passing stranger…this surprising aspect of the resurrection contains a precious message for us. The Resurrection is not a dramatic ‘plot twist’, but a silent transformation that fills every human action with meaning” (October 8, 2025). He later stated, “the resurrection is the remedy to sadness… as a feeling of precariousness” (October 22, 2025). On Wednesday, November 5th , he continued his focus on the resurrection and how it impacts us to this day. He said, “even our time, marked by so many crosses, invokes the dawn of Paschal hope.” He went on to describe “Christ’s Resurrection, not as an idea, not a theory, but the Event that is the foundation of faith. Believing in the Resurrection means revolutionizing how we live…paschal hope does not disappoint…in Christ’s Resurrection we find an answer to our thirst for meaning…” Christ’s Resurrection “becomes care and healing…the paschal mystery is the cornerstone of Christian life.”

At a time when so many among us struggle with the darkness of life, our readings and Pope Leo’s admonition should renew us on the journey. The readings remind us of what is really important, and what is important is beyond this life. As Christians we believe that this life is simply a preparatory stage of what is to hopefully come to each of us – eternal life. But in the meantime, we struggle. Whether it be with temptation, with others, with distractions, with meaning and purpose. We can become discouraged; we lose our way. But that is the advantage of considering our readings and Pope Leo’s observations. We are called to something different, something higher, and we are called to persevere in that knowledge.

As we come to the end of this liturgical year, and with advent of yet another, it is an opportunity to renew our faith and hope in the power of the Resurrection today and every day of our lives.