(Mal.3:19-20; Ps.98:5-9; 2Thes.3:7-12; Lk.21:5-19) "For you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays." The end comes. The end of the Church year approaches, and the end of time is always upon us. What shall it mean for us, the fact that "there will not be left a stone upon another stone"? That day comes "blazing like an oven" for all evildoers, but for the just the healing rays of the Son of God shine down – will we be burned with the proud like stubble, or made whole in the presence of God? Yes, "He comes to rule the earth; He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity." He is just and so He cannot but judge with justice. How shall we prepare for His coming? What do we do as we wait? Paul gives us wise instruction, simple instruction, which should be simply heeded: "Work quietly." It is not for us to be anxious or afraid; it is not for us to fall into disorder or become lazy… it is but for us to remain occupied with the work of God, however simple, however wonderful, that working be. We may be as St. Theresa and her little way, giving ourselves to the Lord in the simple tasks we perform day to day; or we may be as the missionaries for whom she prayed, going out to the ends of the earth, handed over to "synagogues and to prisons," being "led before kings and governors" to give witness to the name of Christ – "and they will put some of you to death" – but to whatever we are called, always it must be the Lord and His Spirit which are at work in us, helping us to persevere to the end. Not all shall die in the cause, but all must remain faithful to His voice. Brothers and sisters, sometimes it is the hardest thing simply to go on day to day. Regardless of our situation, we can become distracted and, failing to find the wisdom of Christ, seek to "prepare [our] defense beforehand," to put the words of the Lord into our own mouths – to decide for ourselves what the Lord would have us do. It is the simplest thing to accept His will, to bask in the rays of His glory… and yet so anxious do we become in our waiting that we cannot hear His still, small voice speaking to our hearts. We must persevere. We must go on. We must listen. He is coming, and if we fear His holy Name, we shall have nothing else to fear: we shall be made whole. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "The End of the World Courses through a Day" from Bearing the Birth Pangs, tenth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let us do your work now on this plane that we might rejoice in your coming Day. YHWH, help us to persevere until the Day of your Son's return; that Day is at hand, we know – let us be ready for its purging fire. And as we stand yet on this earth, let us be ever willing to do your work, to give witness to you and to your Son even with our own lives. Our lives are nothing apart from His sacrifice, and so, O LORD, let us lay them down freely in any way you call. Give us words to speak to those who accuse us unjustly; put your testimony in our hearts and in our mouths. Your Spirit be with us to guide us in all things, that in all things we might act with wisdom. We shall not fear the destruction of this world, dear LORD, if Jesus remains always at our side. Come now with your justice, O God, and let us forever praise your NAME. Your holy will be done even this day.