Two days ago, we celebrated the last Sunday of the liturgical year. This next weekend, we will begin a new year with the First Sunday of Advent. In God, the end and the beginning come together for us. The prospect of the final judgment is a source of hope. Today, we reflect on a powerful and symbolic message from the Book of Revelation. It presents a scene of the final harvest: a white cloud, the Son of Man seated with a crown and a sickle, angels reaping the earth, and grapes ripe for judgment. These vivid images remind us of God’s ultimate justice and mercy. Yet, this passage is not meant to instill fear but to call us to trust and hope in God’s eternal promise.
The harvest is a metaphor for the end of time, a culmination of God’s divine plan. But it is not meant to depict an angry or wrathful God. Rather, it reveals a God of love and mercy, who invites us to live fully and faithfully. Jesus’ message throughout the Gospels is clear: “Do not be afraid.” Faith in Him frees us from fear and invites us into a life of courage and trust.
We are reminded that life is a gift, a precious harvest field entrusted to us. It is a call to live with purpose, to love others, and to care for creation. Panic or despair in the face of uncertainty is not what God desires for us. Instead, He calls us to live in peace, trusting in His plan and His love.
Jesus warns us against false messiahs and empty promises. The world often entices us with illusions of happiness – wealth, power, and fleeting pleasures, which ultimately leave us empty. We are called to ground ourselves in God, the true source of fulfillment. The question for us today is: What fills our hearts? Are we chasing after the temporary, or are we seeking the eternal?
Pope Francis has often pointed out that Jesus “identifies himself with those who hunger and thirst, the stranger, the needy, the sick and those in prison.” The Gospel reminds us to remain vigilant and prepared, not out of fear but out of love. Christ will come to judge us, not with harshness, but with the tender mercy of a shepherd who laid down His life for us. The standard of this judgment is clear: how have we loved? How have we cared for the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, and the imprisoned? How has our mercy witnessed to our need for mercy?
As we await the final harvest, let us trust in God’s promise. He is with us, even in trials. May Our Lady of Guadalupe help us embrace life with courage, care for one another, and place our faith in the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Christ our King, we find our peace, our hope, and our eternal home.
